Aviation Pioneer. Born in Paris, France, he was racing bicycles and automobiles when his interest turned to aviation in 1907. In the early days of European aviation, he established several flying firsts. On November 9, 1907, he won the Archdeacon Cup for the first official flight of more than 150 meters in 1 minute and 14 seconds. This was also the first flight of more then a minute made in a non-Wright Brothers aircraft. He continued improving his plane, winning the Deutsch-Archdeacon Prize for the first flight of more than a kilometer on January 13, 1908. On May 28, 1908, he carried a another person in the first airplane passenger flight in Europe and made the first cross-country flight in Europe, flying 17 miles from Bouy to Reims, on October 30, 1908. At the Reims International Air Meet in August 1909, he won the distance competition by flying 111.8 miles. He also won the Prix des Passengers for carrying two passengers and second place in the Prix de l'Altitude by reaching an altitude of 361 feet. His design of the 50-horsepower Gnôme engine biplane became one of the most famous and widely used European planes before World War I.
Aviation Pioneer. Born in Paris, France, he was racing bicycles and automobiles when his interest turned to aviation in 1907. In the early days of European aviation, he established several flying firsts. On November 9, 1907, he won the Archdeacon Cup for the first official flight of more than 150 meters in 1 minute and 14 seconds. This was also the first flight of more then a minute made in a non-Wright Brothers aircraft. He continued improving his plane, winning the Deutsch-Archdeacon Prize for the first flight of more than a kilometer on January 13, 1908. On May 28, 1908, he carried a another person in the first airplane passenger flight in Europe and made the first cross-country flight in Europe, flying 17 miles from Bouy to Reims, on October 30, 1908. At the Reims International Air Meet in August 1909, he won the distance competition by flying 111.8 miles. He also won the Prix des Passengers for carrying two passengers and second place in the Prix de l'Altitude by reaching an altitude of 361 feet. His design of the 50-horsepower Gnôme engine biplane became one of the most famous and widely used European planes before World War I.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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