André Moynet
A French war hero who soared from daring fighter pilot to aerospace entrepreneur and influential Gaullist politician.
1921–1993 (age 72)·French businessman and politician·Birthday: July 19·The Greatest Generation
Biography
André Moynet lived a life of multiple, high-octane careers, each marked by courage and ambition. His story began in the skies over wartime Europe, where he flew with the Free French Air Force, engaging in dangerous dogfights and earning a chest full of medals for his bravery. This taste for the edge of technology led him naturally into the world of test flying, pushing new aircraft to their limits in the postwar era. Never one to remain solely in the cockpit, Moynet leveraged his aeronautical expertise to found his own aerospace company, designing and building innovative aircraft like the Moynet M.360 Jupiter. In the 1960s, he translated his stature and Gaullist convictions into a political career, serving as a deputy in the French National Assembly and later in the European Parliament, where he advocated for European industrial and defense cooperation, forever linking his legacy to both the air and the halls of power.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
André was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When André Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
André's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Died at 72
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- Designed and produced the Moynet M.360 Jupiter, a pioneering twin-engine light aircraft with a central thrust configuration.
- Served as a Deputy in the French National Assembly for Seine-et-Oise from 1962 to 1967.
- Was a decorated Free French pilot in World War II, receiving the Croix de Guerre and other honors.
- Elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 1979, serving until 1984.
Did You Know?
Before his aerospace venture, he was involved in the automotive industry, working for Simca.
The Moynet M.360 Jupiter prototype first flew in 1963 and featured a unique three-engine layout with one in the tail.
He was a member of the Union for the New Republic (UNR), the political party founded by Charles de Gaulle.
“I flew for freedom, then built for the future—both required a steady hand.”
