Pioneers

de LĂ´me 1870 airship

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In 1870 Dupuy de LĂ´me devoted a large amount of time to perfecting a practical navigable balloon, and the French Government gave him great assistance in carrying out the experiments. For carrying out the project, he was given a credit of 40,000 francs; but the balloon was not ready until a few days before the capitulation. These experiments led to the development of one of the first navigable balloons, named the Dupuy de LĂ´me.

The Dupuy de LĂ´me airship was 36 meters in length, 14.84 meters in diameter, 29 meters tall, and had a total volume of 3,454 cubic meters. It was powered by a crank, which was operated by 4 or 8 men and which could provide a speed of between 9 and 11 km/h. The basket under the balloon could carry 14 people.

Delfosse, Arthur 

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Arthur Delfosse (Germany, 1883-1956) built his first motorcycle at the age of 15. In 1902 he made his first gliding experiments on the Mülheimer Heide in Cologne with a homemade airplane. In 1909 Delfosse built a Blériot-like monoplane.

Subsequently he founded the first aircraft engine factory in Germany.

Delest, Juan Alberto

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Sgt Albert Delest, MF 1 Squadron Pilot – F 35 Squadron in 1916

Warrant Officer Albert Jean Delest – Born February 7, 1891 in Buenos Aires (Argentina) – Son of Jean Albert Delest and Charlotte Moras.
Pre-war Engineer Electrician – Married, with a boy and a girl.

In France he had the opportunity of being assistant to flyer Louis Paulhan who gave him his interest in flying machines.

Enlisted at the 2nd Aviation Group as student pilot January 16, 1915, receiving Military pilot certificate n ° 925 obtained at the Etampes military aviation school, May 7, 1915.
A pilot of MF 1 squadron from June 1 to October 16, 1915 and promoted to Corporal, June 27, 1915, and Sergeant, September 7, 1915.
A pilot of MF 60 squadron from October 29 to December 3, 1915 and of F 35 squadron from December 4, 1915 to November 18, 1917.
Received the Cross of War and a Citation to the Order of the Army Corps in April 1916.
Appointed Warrant Officer, August 16, 1916 and received the Military Medal, August 20, 1916 with 2 citations to the order of the army, August 20, 1916 and August 27, 1916.
Hospitalized at Complementary Hospital No. 18 Toul July 21 to November 18, 1917.
Streak of aircrew, November 16, 1917 and Transferred to the 2nd Lyon-Bron aviation group of November 22, 1917.

de Lavaud SĂŁo Paulo

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On the 7th January 1910, the first airplane constructed and designed in Brazil took off for its maiden flight in Osasco, SĂŁo Paulo. The aircraft was conceived by the Frenchman Demetre Sensaud de Lavaud and was very similar to the Bleriot designs. The first flight was only 6-sec long. Afterwards, several other flights followed and the airplane, known as SĂŁo Paulo, attracted huge crowds during its flights exhibitions. The aircraft was 100% Brazilian-made (even the propellers and the engine were manufactured by Mr. Lavaud). It was the first of several other designs developed in Brazil and the event took place long before the country could see aircraft serial manufacturing.

de la Hault Ornithopter

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Ornithopter No.2

In 1908, at the workshops of Julius Miess in Brussels, De la Hault built a lemniscate paddle-wing ornithopter, his No.1, which was tested with encouraging yet unsuccessful results. This was followed by his second attempt in 1910. In the photograph, De la Hault stands second from the right, while helicopter pioneer Henri Villard is seen on the far left.