| Constantin Wladimir Rozanoff | |
|---|---|
Kostia Rozanoff near Mystère IV |
|
| Nickname | Kostia |
| Born | 23 August 1905 Warsaw, Russian Empire |
| Died | 3 April 1954 Melun, France |
| Allegiance | France |
| Years of service | 1940–1946 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | GC II/4, GC 2/5 «Lafayette», GC 2/3 «Dauphiné» |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Air Medal, Légion d'honneur |
Constantin Wladimir Rozanoff, also known as Kostia Rozanoff, (Russian: Розанов, Константин Владимирович) (August 23, 1905 – April 3, 1954) - was a French test pilot, Colonel of the French Air Force, and one of the pioneers of jet aviation. He was chief-pilot at Dassault Aviation.[1] He flew 201 types of planes and helicopters, and accumulated 5,000 flying hours, including 3,865 combat hours, and breaking the sound barrier 104 times.
Constantin Rozanoff was born to a Russian family in Warsaw. He and his mother emigrated to France in 1917 because of the Revolution, and in 1927 obtained French citizenship. Constantin Rozanoff enteres the prestigious engineering school École Centrale Paris, where he graduated in 1928.
Attending the SUPAERO National Aircraft School (L'École nationale supérieure de l'aéronautique et de l'espace) in 1933, after completing studies he became a licensed pilot. In 1935 he became a pilot with the Center of aeronautics in Vélizy-Villacoublay (Centre d'Essais des Matériels Aéronautiques - CEMA) and took part in flight testing of the Morane-Saulnier MS.406, Dewoitine D.520 and Bloch MB.152.
Rozanoff flew operations in the Battle of France with (squadron GC II/4), and in May 1940 shot down two Luftwaffe fighter planes in a Curtiss P-36.
After occupation in 1942 he travelled to (Morocco) where he participated operations with the Allies in Tunis and Algeria, and on convoy operations over the Mediterranean flying the Curtiss P-40 (with onboard sign «MadKot»). He commanded GC 2/5 («Lafayette») and GC 2/3 («Dauphiné»).[2]
In December 1943 he went to Great Britain where he flew the first RAF jet, the (Gloster G-41), then participated in flight testing the P-59 Airacomet and Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star in the USA. In December 1945 after returning from the USA as a Colonel he served at Airbase 118 in Mont-de-Marsan, named later after his name.[3]
He was demobilised in October 1946 and headed the Test Division of the Dassault Aviation (as chief-pilot). Colonel Rozanoff became the chief test pilot flying the MD-450 Ouragan and participated in testing military transport planes such as the Dassault MD.315 Flamant, and the fighter-bomber Mystère (I-IV).
Rozanoff became the first Frenchman to break the sound barrier on 24 February 1954 in the Mystère IV A.[4][5][6][7]
In 1954 Konstantin Rozanov published his autobiographical- Double Bang - Ma Vie de Pilote d'Essai.
Colonel Rozanov was killed in a crash of a Mystère IV B during a public low-level flight on over Melun Villaroche Aerodrome.[8][9]
He was buried in the Passy Cemetery.[10]
Awarded Air Medal and Légion d'honneur.