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IRMSCHER, CARLOS V. (German engineer). Licensed as the International of Flying Pilot No. 26, as
issued by the Aero Club Argentino. The Engineer Carlos V. Irmscher already lived in our country when the first French aviators and their airplanes arrived, in the early months of 1910. It may be supposed, inconclusively, that he was one of the witnesses to the birth of our aeronautics. He had been born in Chemmitz (Germany), April 10, 1877. The German universities served this intelligent, dynamic and exceptionally tenacious man until he graduated as an engineer; soon, the technique and the industry were object of their competition and aptitudes until their resolution to come to America. Inclined towards the aeronautical disciplines, engineer Irmscher began to frequent the centers in which that activity was being developed, in special, Villa Lugano. There he entered into a close friendship with Jorge Newbery; later with Jiménez Lastra and Alberto R. Mascías. Also there, on May 15, 1910, he was the protagonist in a peculiar event that almost cost him his life: he tried to fly without knowing how to do it. A pioneer of the period relates the episode of the following way: "A Santos Dumont Demoiselle monoplane had arrived at Villa Lugano, an extremely dangerous machine, because of its light weight and lack of stability. The pilots viewed it with distrust when suddenly engineer Irmscher arrived on the scene, extremely excited by the sight of the machine. After making a detailed examination of the aeroplane, he exclaimed, "I am going to fly this machine." "What are you going to do? asked one of those present, "He still has not received the first theoretical lesson and already he wants to fly." It made no difference what was said to Irmscher. "I will fly this machine right now." and there was no possiblity of convincing him to forget his plan. He boarded the plane, started the motor, ordered the people out of the way, and took off. But after only fifteen meters, the apparatus crashed violently against the ground, throwing the novel aviator out to a respectable distance. The result, engineer Irmscher suffered a fracture of his leg. " This was then, the first aeronautical experience of engineer Irmscher.. His recovery required several months. When recovered, he became a member of the Aero Argentine Club (Act No 43, book 1, of the 7 of December of 1910). His enthusiasm and collaboration with the institution and its leaders was impressive. After the Military School of Aviation was founded in 1912, and his being proposed as honorary senior instructor by the Aero Argentine Club, engineer Irmscher offered his services to the School, and was assigned to be professor of "Aeronautical Constructions, Motor and Physical". He continued in that position, in an honorary appointment, until the end of 1915. The director of the School authorized him to develope a course of pilot training there. Alberto R. Mascias, a student of Irmscher, passed his flight testl in Palomar in a 50 HP Farman-Gnome, the 26th of July, 1913. At the Meeting of Members of the Aero Argentine Club, carried out on February 6, 1914, (Act Nº 87), engineer Irmscher was nominated for the position of Speaker of the directive commission. With respect to this matter, the Act states: "the member, Benjamin Jiménez Lastra states that with the knowledge that illustrious member Dr Alfredo L. Palaces wishes to release his position to another member who can care for the related tasks. He moves that all the members be reelected, with the exception of himself. He recommends instead that engineer Carlos Irmscher be elected, inasmuch as he possesses so many merits which he has demonstrated to the Club, clearly being person a who has ample aeronautical knowledge. Presented for the consideration of the Assembly, this motion is approved without any discussion. " In the session of February 26, 1915, (Act Nº 102), engineer Irmscher was designated to establish, together with the engineer Duclout, Dr Guillermo Schulz and lieutenant colonel Arenales Uriburu, the "Technical Commission" of the Aero Club. He is possible to brief that the Aero Argentine Club trusted to Irmscher engineer them inspection of fields and aerodromes, installed or to settle then, as he is known, by interval of his technical commissions, the institution exerted still more in the époea and there of that, the control of the aerial activity in the country. Upon accepting the position of a profesor at the Universidad de la Plata in 1916, engineer Irmscher left aviation. Among other important public positions he held must be added Head of Laboratories of the Direction of the Lighting system of the City of Buenos Aires Engineer Carlos V. Irmscher passed away in this capital city January 6, 1928. His remains were cremated and the ashes were sent to his native country. Reference: Lironi Julio Víctor. (1973) Génesis de la Aviación Argentina 1910-1915. Página 352 a 353. Talleres Gráficos Congreso. Buenos Aires Argentina |
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