Pascal Chrétien (born 7 April 1968) is a French-Australian commercial helicopterpilot and engineer with degrees in electronics and aerospace who designed, built and test flew the world’s first crewed electric helicopter the Solution F/Chretien Helicopter on 12 August 2011.[1][2][3][4] The helicopter, built for the French company Solution F,[5] set a Guinness World Record and received the IDTechEx Electric Vehicles Land Sea & Air award.[6][7] The prototype is on permanent display at the Musée de l'air et de l'espace in Paris le Bourget, France.[8]
Chrétien has been pioneering electromagnetic transmissions[9] and hybrid propulsion applied to aircraft since 2002[10][11] and holds several patents in the field.[12] Chrétien obtained commercial helicopter pilot licences in Canada and Australia, in 1993 and 1994, respectively. He has aerial work and aircraft testing experience.[13]
