The aviation world suffered a tragic loss on Saturday, May 27, when
Daniel Heligoin and Montaine Mallet -- known to many as the French
Connection air show team -- lost their lives in an accident at their home
airport in Bunnell, Fla. The French Connection had been among the
headline performers at EAA AirVenture for a quarter-century and were
scheduled to perform at Oshkosh again in 2000.
"All of us at EAA are saddened by the sudden loss of Daniel and
Montaine. They were not only magnificent aviators, but were marvelous
ambassadors for aviation," said EAA President Tom Poberezny who, as
a member of the Eagles Aerobatic Team, flew with the French
Connection at many air shows over the years. "They touched so many
people through the years with their warmth and their willingness to
share the world of flight.
"They were professionals and entertainers of the highest degree, who had marked their 25th year of performing at EAA
AirVenture in 1999. They were extremely proud of that fact and we are proud to have been associated with them for
these many years. They will be missed and remembered by thousands of aviation enthusiasts."
EAA sends its condolences to the families of Daniel and Montaine. Following is some background about both of these
remarkable pilots and performers.
Daniel Héligoin
(View Obituary and Sign Memorial Guest Book for Daniel)
Daniel started flying gliders at age 16, joined the French Air Force and, by joint agreement between the U.S. and France,
was sent to the United States in 1953 to earn his pilot’s wings with the U.S. Air Force. While with the French Air Force,
Daniel was a fighter pilot and instructor. He was also a member of the French Air Force Jet team (similar to the U.S.
Thunderbirds), flying the Fouga Magister at the time. He then was one of the founders of the light aircraft Aerobatic Team
where he flew Stamps, Zlins and then the CAP 10B and single place version at the time called the CAP 20. While in that
Team, he taught aerobatics, flew air shows and competition. He was France Unlimited Aerobatic Champion in 1971 and
1972. He joined Avions Mudry (manufacturers of the CAP 10B) now CAP Aviation, at the beginning of 1972, as its chief
demonstration pilot and was sent to the United States in the Summer of 1973, with Montaine, to market the CAP 10B.
Daniel had more than 15,000 hours in everything from J3 Cub to Mirages, of which over 8,000 have been flown
performing aerobatics. Fellow pilots say Daniel was probably the most experienced formation pilot in the world today and
probably among the ones with the most aerobatic instruction given. His enormous amount of experience as a pilot and
instructor, his will to share his experience, his sense of entertainment, his enthusiasm and "joie de vivre" made him one
of the best air show pilots in the world.
Montaine Mallet
(View Obituary and Sign Memorial Guest Book for Montaine)
Montaine began to fly while attending aeronautical engineering school at the age of 19, following a desire sparked
reading the lives of the aviation pioneers such as Guillaumet, St. Exupery, Mermoz and others. In 1972, with a degree in
engineering, she joined Avions Mudry as well. In her free time, she began studying aerobatics with Daniel and started to
compete in the Spring of 1973. She was sent with Daniel to the United States as a technical adviser and to help
demonstrate the CAP 10B to potential customers. Montaine had well over 8,000 hours of flight time, of which over 3,000
had been flown performing aerobatics.
Both Daniel & Montaine taught aerobatics in the U.S. since 1973. They were based at Flagler County Airport in Bunnell,
Fla.