Mélanie Astles

“I was bullied in school, and it’s only now that I really start to talk about it,” she said. Astles was born in England to a British father and a French mother and moved to France when she was three years old. She had a disfiguring growth on her upper lip and it made her a target for constant harassment. By the time it was removed at age 14, she had turned into an introvert. But she knew one thing: She wanted to be a fighter pilot. When she was a little girl, her father had taken her to an airshow where she’d seen a Harrier jump jet, and that was all it took to instill in her a passion for aviation. She was good at school; however, she was told she didn’t have the necessary math skills for her desired career. Frustrated, she left school at age 18 without completing her university entrance exam and went to work at a gas station, which she eventually managed. She hadn’t given up on her dream, though. Her savings went into obtaining a private pilot certificate at age 21. She worked at the flight school in exchange for lessons and worked her way up to an airline transport pilot certificate. She also passed her university entrance exam.

One day, another pilot took Astles up for an aerobatic flight, and that was the moment that decided her career. She found she had an affinity for aerobatics and soon won her first French champion title and many more after that. She eventually ranked seventh in the FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championship, which placed her among the best pilots in the world. In 2016, she transitioned to Red Bull Air Race, becoming the first woman to compete in the race’s Challenger Class. She went on to win several “podiums,” including first place at the Indianapolis Red Bull Air Race Championship 2017.

After a short stint flying an Airbus for Air France, Astles decided to dedicate her life to inspiring others to pursue an interest or even a career in aviation and founded her company Airmel, a business committed to communications, networking, and the sale and rental of aircraft. She flies private airshows all over the world and shares her experiences as a motivational speaker at conferences and events. Astles is still competing; in 2024, she won the English Open International, making her the British National Champion. When asked about the biggest challenges in her career, she listed “Being an introvert, overcoming fears, and…paperwork.” Astles favorite aircraft is her Extra 330 painted with what could be called her mission statement:
“To Dream, To Fly, To Inspire.”

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@melanie_astles_aero