Aimé Michel

The French Ufologist who devised the “orthoténie” to promote an understanding of UFO patterns.

Name	Aimé Michel
Age	73
Born	May 12, 1919
Died	December 28, 1992
Famous for	Proposed the theory of “orthoténie”

Aimé Michel was a French UFO researcher who devoted his life to analyzing geometric patterns in UFO sightings.

Through his unique approach that combined visionary and analytical processes, he was able to come up with a straight-line theory that defined the sightings clustered in strategic, geographical locations that aligned with Earth’s grid lines.

This earned him recognition and respect within the UFO community, even from skeptics.

His Early Life and Entry into UFO Studies

Aimé Michel was born in Saint-Vincent-les-Forts. He studied psychology and philosophy and later worked as a studio sound engineer until the 1940s.

Despite his academic and professional background, Michel said he had but one passion and curiosity growing up, and that was to understand “non-human” thought. He wanted to know, “What can a thought other than mine be?¹” 

He was always an out-of-the-box thinker, keen on examining things further. All of his research since he was 15 reflected this.

His outlook on life made him interested in diverse concepts, such as mystérieux objets célestes (mysterious celestial objects), paranormal phenomena, flying saucers, and more. This opened his door to UFO research.

His First UFO Exposure

Aimé Michel would have been 35 years old when he first got exposed to the extraterrestrial mysteries. This was due to the French press’s extensive coverage of the UFO wave in 1954.

During this period, France was at the center of an influx of worldwide reports about the UFO phenomenon. The country was bombarded with several reports of sightings describing strange lights, disc-shaped objects, and even small, hairy creatures. A classic case was that of Vernon on August 23, when one witnessed a red, cigar-like object in the sky.

These reports sparked Michel’s curiosity about UFOs, prompting his first research in the field.

His Key Contributions to the UFO/UAP Community

The UFO wave gave Aimé Michel a subject for his immense curiosity. He began studying the phenomena but separated himself from the other ufologists with his methods and philosophical openness. He was particularly known for the following contributions:

• Lueurs Sur Les Soucoupes Volantes
• Mystérieux Objets Célestes
• Orthoténie
• Invisible College

Lueurs Sur Les Soucoupes Volantes

By 1954, Michel had established himself in the UFO community with his book Lueurs Sur Les Soucoupes Volantes, or “The Truth About Flying Saucers.” 

The book was written during the height of UFO activity in France. It cross-referenced testimonies, data, and geographic positions, serving as Michel’s argument that the phenomenon was real.

The Truth About Flying Saucers explored the aerial objects’ possible origins, with Michel attributing them to extraterrestrials crafted using advanced technology. It also details these objects’ potential propulsion systems, further establishing them as real.

Mystérieux Objets Célestes

Mystérieux Objets Célestes, or Mysterious Celestial Objects, was published in 1958 and included maps depicting the crisscrossing patterns of sightings Michel discovered. It reported the findings he gathered after his conversation with Cocteau. 

One of the book’s most interesting discussions was the appearance of a “mother ship.” Witnesses had reported regularly observing a big, vertical, cigar-shaped UFO. When mapped, Michel observed that these instances coincided along the areas where orthotenic lines crossed.

Orthoténie

In the fall of 1954, his friend, Jean Cocteau, gave Aimé Michel advice after reading his book Lueurs Sur Les Soucoupes Volantes. He mentioned that Michel should investigate whether the flying saucers followed a pattern human eyes could have overlooked.

This advice would propel Michel’s UFO research to new directions, allowing him to devise the theory of “orthoténie.” The word was derived from the Greek word “orthos,” which means straight.

Following Cocteau’s advice, he plotted sightings on a French map, which revealed the UFO’s tendencies to appear in straight lines, thus the theory.

In a 1965 broadcast on French TV, he discussed one example in particular. On September 24, 1954, nine observations occurred, respectively, at the following locations:

• Lantefontaine in Lorraine
• Langeac
• Le Puy in the Massif Central
• Vichy
• Gelles
• Ussel
• Tulle
• Lencouacq
• Bayonne

Having plotted their locations, Michel observed that six were strictly and precisely aligned. Sightings from Vichy down to Bayonne would have followed a straight line, appearing within 24 hours. This gave birth to the ufologist’s other significant contribution: the Bayonne-Vichy orthotenic alignment, or simply called the “BaVic line.”

The BaVic line was particularly interesting in Michel’s research findings because it shows apparent linearity. Other sightings replicated this configuration, which led him to conclude that it was a meaningful feature of the UFO phenomenon.

This linearity could be used to estimate the probability of UFO appearances, as well as where and how they could occur.

Invisible College

With his contributions and innovations, the ufologist became a respectable figure in a network of scientists, military officials, and other ufologists who shared data about these sightings.

The Invisible College existed outside traditional systems and relied on personal connections. It worked on strengthening the community’s effort to understand the phenomenon.

His Legacy in Ufology

Aimé Michel was also a journalist whose radio shows helped popularize scientific ideas throughout France.

By his passing, Michel was well-known for transforming UFO analysis with his analytical and methodological approach, which balanced the mysticism of UFOs with logic.

Although he never claimed to have definitive answers about the subject, his investigations prompted that UFOs merited serious examination. He helped shape how modern scientists perceived and approached the phenomenon.

FAQ

Why is he famous?

Aimé Michel ultimately became famous because of his orthoténie theory. He was the first to look into the geographical patterns of flying saucers and found an interesting alignment.

What did he believe about UFOs?

In 1966, Aimé Michel expressed that the UFO phenomenon did exist, given its consistency and coherence. He believed that these saucers behave intelligently, but people couldn’t understand their level of intelligence.

Did he work with other researchers?

Aimé Michel collaborated with other ufologists under the Invisible College network.