User:Maxfolland/sandbox

Max Mathez (26 June 1917 – 26 September 1955) was a Swiss test pilot.

Life and Death
Born in Tramelan, Max Mathez attended primary and secondary school in Tramelan. He obtained his highschool certificate in Porrentruy. He then went on to study mechanical engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich). In 1937 he interrupted his studies to join the Swiss Air Force, where he obtained his military pilot's license on August 5, 1939.

After the Second World War, he took command of the famous 6th Escadrille of the Swiss Air Force until 1954. At the same time, he trained as a test pilot, and on May 5, 1954, beat the Swiss altitude record (15´560 meters amsl) aboard a De Havilland Venom.

Max Mathez tragically lost his life on Monday morning, September 26, 1955, while testing Folland Aircraft's Midge prototype at RAF Chilbolton airbase in England. A funeral with military honors was held in his native village on October 1, 1955.

A sculpture by artist André Ramseyer adorns his grave. This sculpture, called L'oiseau Déchiré, can still be seen at the eastern entrance to the Tramelan cemetery.