| Native Name: | Paul Albert Gaston Tissandier |
| Native Name Lang: | fr |
| Birth Date: | 19 February 1881 |
| Birth Place: | 1st arrondissement of Paris |
| Awards: | Legion of Honour |
Paul Tissandier (19 February 1881 – 11 March 1945)[1] was a French aviator. He was the treasurer of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) from its foundation (1905) to 1919, and its Secretary General from 1913 to 1945, and it awards the Paul Tissandier Diploma every year in his honor.
Tissandier was the son of aviator Gaston Tissandier and nephew of Albert Tissandier, Gaston's brother.
Tissandier began his flying career as a hot air balloon pilot and later moved to airships and finally to airplanes.[2] He was a pilot-pupil of Wilbur Wright.[3] Together with Count Charles de Lambert, he was involved in the construction of hydro-gliders.
The Aero Club Paul Tissandier based at the Saint-Cyr-l'École airfield was named in his honour.[4]
The Paul Tissandier Diploma is a perpetual international award established in 1952 by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in memory of Tissandier who was Treasurer of the FAI from its foundation to 1919 and its Secretary General from 1913 to 1945. The diplomas are awarded to those persons who have served the cause of aviation and private and sporting aviation in particular, by their work, initiative, devotion or other endeavours.
Each Aero club which is a member of FAI may recommend a number of deserving candidates for the diploma each year; the U.S. is allowed three. The recipients are confirmed by the FAI Administrative Council and publicly announced and the Diplomas are awarded at the annual FAI General Conference.
Notable recipients include: