JOSEPH CHRISTIAENS 1879-1919 AKA Josef Christiaens

Joseph Christiaens Library of Congress Collection

Joseph Christiaens Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers

 

GRANDE QUINZANE D'AVIATION BRUXELLES-STOCKEL LE BIPLAN H. FARMAN Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers

 

QUINZANE D'AVIATION DE STOCKEL - CHRISTIAENS EN PLEIN VOL Collection of Dave Lam, 8-24-08

 

COMMENTS via email from Philippe Fiquet, 8-22-08      One of our members, renowned for being an expert in old planes has identified the plane as a De Pischof 'Autoplan'. He has also found the following links : De Pischof "Autoplan" Le conquérant du ciel Inland Thanks again, and have a nice day. Philippe Fiquet Marcinelle Belgium Here are two other (unknown) Belgian aircrafts which I found during my inquiries TOURNAI. berceau de l'aviation belge

 

 

Race Car Driver - 1919 Library of Congress Collection

 

ONLINE RESOURCES - 1      If you use the Google search engine on "Joseph Christiaens" +aviation, (7-2-07), you will find about 50 links.One of the most useful, which was suggested by our friend Marcus Lim, is the following.

 

Who is Joseph Christiaens? - Engineer - Racing driver - Aviator -      This page on the Past to Present Vintage Photo Gallery webpage offers an extensive chronological review of his career and three unique photographs of him when he was a race car driver. You can access the page by clicking on the title above.      While you are on the page, you will be surprised and pleased to find a wealth of material is available if you click on the "Flying Pioneers" link at the top of the page, just under the banner. If time permits, you will want to visit some of the other pages which are listed. This is an incredibly rich resource.

 

THE PIONEERS      This website offers a resumé of the history of aviation in Belgium from 1794 to 1996. Included in the story is the following paragraph which mentions Alfred Lanser.

 

"In 1910, the Aero-Club of Belgium organised a flying week in Brussels at the Stokkel Hippodrome. Eleven Belgian pilots were listed on the program : Pierre de Caters, Jan Olieslagers, Charles Van den Born, Joseph Christiaens, Jules Tyck, Jules de Laminne, Nicolas Kinet, Alphonse de Ridder, Leon Verstraeten, Joseph d'Hespel, and Alfred Lanser.      Olieslagers established a new world record flying at a height of 1,524 metres."

 

Edmond Audemars, Swiss aviator, aeronautics meeting, Dorset, 1910.-       Marcus Lim found this site which offers a very nice photograph which includes Christiaens. It is found on the SCIENCE & SOCIETY Picture Library website. You can access the page by clicking on the title above.

Singapore Mint - First Flight 5 Ounce Proof Silver Medal - Joseph Christiaens - 1987 - Case-       Our friend Marcus Lim found this site which offers a commemorative medal featuring Christiaens. It includes a brief biography of him as well as images of both sides of the medal, each of which can be greatly enlarged so that they can be appreciated for their beauty. You can access the page by clicking on the title above.

 

ONLINE RESOURCES - 2      If you use the Google search engine on "Josef Christiaens" +aviation, (1-8-08), you will find about four links. Perhaps the most useful, which was submitted by our friend Marcus Lim, is the following.

Josef Christiaens      This article offers helpfull summaries of his activities, both as a racecar driver and an aviator. You can access the site by clicking on the title above.

 

REQUEST FOR HELP via email from Marcus Lim, 7-1-07 Hi Ralph, how are you doing?      I'm an artist based in Singapore, and who's working on research on aviators who came to Singapore back in the 1900s. Apparently, I found out this man came to Singapore for a demo flight on March 16th, 1911 at the old Race Course (currently known as Race Course Road in Singapore) I haven't been able to find out more about him and his life ever since.      I was wondering if you'll be able to help me out on information about this man. If you have information particularly about him being in Singapore, that will be most helpful. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Best regards Marcus Lim Editor's Note: If you can help Marcus with any more information on this aviator, please contact me. I will forward your message to him. Thank you very much.

 

Joseph Christiaens died on February 2, 1919, testing a racing car in England Personal communication from Peter Higham, 6-14-05   Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper

 

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