Bernard Ziegler
Bernard Ziegler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 March 1933 Boulogne-Billancourt, France |
| Died | 4 May 2021 (aged 88) |
| Occupation(s) | Aviator, aerospace engineer |
| Known for | Senior vice president of engineering at Airbus; pioneer of fly-by-wire technology in Airbus aircraft |
Bernard Ziegler (12 March 1933 – 4 May 2021) was a distinguished French aviator and engineer who held the position of senior vice president of engineering at Airbus. He played a pivotal role in the adoption of fly-by-wire technology within Airbus aircraft and was the son of Henri Ziegler, the founder of Airbus.
Biography
Ziegler was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, and completed his studies at École Polytechnique in 1954, followed by graduation from École de l'Air in 1955. His early career was marked by service as a fighter pilot in the French Air Force during the Algerian War, where he earned multiple distinctions such as Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite and Officier de la Légion d'honneur.
In 1961, Ziegler was involved in an incident while flying a French Air Force aircraft that caused damage to the Vallee Blanche Aerial Tramway and tragically resulted in six deaths.
He pursued further education at École nationale supérieure de l'aéronautique et de l'espace (Supaéro) in 1961 and completed test pilot training at EPNER in 1964. By 1968, he served as chief test pilot for the Dassault Mirage G. At Airbus, his career encompassed roles such as chief test pilot starting in 1972, senior vice president for flight and support, and later senior vice president for engineering. He notably commanded the maiden flights of the Airbus A300, A310, A320, and A340 aircraft.
Ziegler was instrumental in shaping Airbus’s cockpit design philosophy and advancing fly-by-wire control systems. He advocated for technological advancements including the use of composite materials, implementation of twin-engine designs on the A300, and development of flight envelope protection software. This software enhances operational safety by preventing pilots from exceeding critical flight parameters and is acclaimed for its contribution to improved handling, especially when responding to alerts from systems like the GPWS.
In recognition of his contributions to fly-by-wire technology, he received an award from the Flight Safety Foundation in 1998. After dedicating 25 years to Airbus, Ziegler retired in 1997.
References
Bibliography
- Cowboys d'Airbus authored by Bernard Ziegler, Privat, 2008.
External links
- 1933 births
- 2021 deaths
- French people of German descent
- People from Boulogne-Billancourt
- French aerospace engineers
- École Polytechnique alumni
- Supaéro alumni
- French aviators
- French test pilots
- French military personnel of the Algerian War
- Officers of the Ordre national du Mérite
- Recipients of the Aeronautical Medal
- Recipients of the Cross for Military Valour
- Officers of the Legion of Honour
- Airbus people