1884-1963 |
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Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers |
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Spa le 23-9-09 Emilei L. Pauleie? Collection of Dave Lam, 2-20-05 |
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from the L'actualité Sartrouville website Transcription courtesy of M.Galilée, 7-15-05 For the convenience of those who don't read French, a machine-translated version is available at: English Version Louis Paulhan was born in Pézènas, in 1883, he has an inhabitant of Sartrouville living Jean Jaurès Street, in Gypaete House which is now a senior residence nicknamed Villa Berthe. Mécanicien de dirigeable, il s'intéresse vivement à la construction de modèles réduits et gagne en 1908, un concours dont le premier prix est la réalisation grandeur nature du modèle gagnant. Devant la complexité de la maquette, on préfère lui offrir une cellule d'aéroplane (sans moteur). Réussissant rapidement à s'en procurer un, Louis Paulhan entreprend son apprentissage de pilote et devient titulaire du 10° brevet délivré en France. (Louis Blériot détenait le brevet n°1). Louis Paulhan se fait remarquer dans plusieurs meetings aériens, notamment celui de Douai, qui eut lieu du 10 au 18 juillet 1909, où il pulvérisa le record d'altitude( 150m) et de durée avec 1h07mn, couvrant 47 km. Il triomphe dans la course Londres-Manchester, d'une distance de 300 km. Mobilisé pour la Grande Guerre comme pilote de chasse, puis démobilisé, il devient constructeur d'hydravions, puis finit sa vie à St-Jean-de-Luz où il décède le 10 février 1963.1909 Louis Paulhan from |
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Library of Congress Collection, 8-16-10 |
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Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers |
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from the hands of the Lord Mayor of San Diego Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers |
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By email from Dave Lam, 1-25-03 |
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Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee: March 12, 1910, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 1-29-05 A crowd of 300 inside the track enclosure witnessed the exhibition by invitation, while thousands outside cheered the aviator in his flights. Wilbur Wright was among the favored spectators. He studied the bi-plane closely as did his attorney. Paulhan has an agreement with the Wrights whereby he can continue to give exhibition flights on the deposit of a $6,000 weekly bond pending the determination of the Wright patent injunction suit. |
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America will Lose International Aviation Meet Foreign Experts Will Sign No Contracts to Appear until the Suit Against Paulhan has been Decided Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee: March 13, 1910, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 1-29-05 Courtlandt Field Bishop, president of the Aero club of America said this afternoon that all foreign aviators of note have assured him that they will not sign contracts to appear in this country till the suit against Paulhan is decided. If Paulhan wins, they will be glad to compete. If he loses they do not care to place themselves within the jurisdiction of American courts. "All the aero clubs of Europe and the British Isles have informed Mr. Bishop they will hold no meets between October 1 - November 18, 1910, in order that the Aero club of America may be left a free hand in naming a date for the international meet. The Wright Brothers have been granted a temporary injunction in the United States courts circuit court restraining Paulhan from flights in his Farman bi-plane which they contend infringes on their patents and counsel for Paulhan must appear next week to show cause why the injunction should not be made permanent. In the meantime a compromise has been reached by which he is permitted to give exhibitions under a bond. Wilbur Wright was at the Jamaica race track this afternoon to watch Paulhan make a daring flight in a northeast wind of twenty-eight miles an hour. Paulhan attempted to make a circuit of the track but alighted before he had gone half way. He realized, he said, that he would be killed in any attempt to describe the full circumference. "I hope for better success tomorrow," he said. |
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Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee: March 14, 1910, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 1-29-05 |
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Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee: March 14, 1910, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 1-29-05 Wilbur Wright, as he has done daily heretofore, attended the exhibition with his attorney and closely watched the flight with an eye to taking evidence to show that Paulhan's bi-plane is an infringe of the Wright's patents. Paulhan may attempt flight to New York, thirteen miles away, some day this week if the weather conditions are right. |
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Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee: March 19, 1910, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 1-29-05 Counsel for Edwin Cleary, Paulhan's erstwhile manager, who alleges that Paulhan broke his contract, leaving him $82,000 in the hole, made the application. Further argument will be heard tomorrow. Paulhan could not be found today and it is rumored that he has quietly sailed for France, leaving his aeroplanes behind him. |
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Another which I found to be unique and interesting is "The First Flight in Texas." It has a very nice picture of Paulhan and his plane. It also mentions the Texas inventor, Jacob F. Brodbeck, who may have been "The World's First Aviator." You can access it by clicking on: If you have the time, and the interest, you can be well satisfied by browsing the entire selection. |
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Special Collections Wright State University Libraries This outstanding website includes 25 brief biographies of aviators of the period, including Louis Paulhan, and their associated postcards. Full size images of the postcards are available and are beautiful. To access the introduction, just click on: I think you will want to browse the entire exhibit, page by page. I found it to be a very valuable addition to the online community. |
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Louis Paulhan was born in Pézenas (Herault), 1883. He died in Saint-Jean de Luz
(Pyrénées Atlantiques), 10 février 1963). Courtesy of M.Galilée, 7-14-05 |
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If you have any information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper |
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