Louis Capazza facts for kids
Louis Henri Capazza (1862–1928) was a French balloonist who loved to explore the skies. He was born in Bastia, Corsica, on January 17, 1862. He lived in Belgium for a few years before moving to the United States around 1920. He passed away in Paris in 1928 after getting sick in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Louis Capazza: A Pioneer of the Skies
Amazing Balloon Adventures
Louis Capazza's first balloon flight was on November 14, 1886. He flew his own balloon, named "Gabizos," above Bastia and Ajaccio. He made over 35 balloon flights in his lifetime. His first flight that included a parachute jump was in 1892 in Villette, France. He also piloted the "Lebaudy" airship in France.
He made many flights in Britain between 1891 and 1892, and in France between 1893 and 1894. Capazza designed a special lens-shaped balloon airship. He also invented a unique parachute, which he used for two jumps.
During a flight attempt in August 1892 in England, something went wrong. The balloon slipped out of its net and took off without him! The crowd became very upset and tried to hurt him.
In another flight in 1892, he used a special balloon. This balloon had a large parachute instead of a regular net. He launched from the Villette Gas Works. During the flight, the balloon was purposely torn. This allowed him to float down safely using the parachute.
A very important flight happened on November 14, 1899. Louis Capazza made the first balloon crossing of the Mediterranean Sea! He flew in "Gabizos" with his 21-year-old friend, Alphonse Fondère. They launched from Marseille at 4:30 AM. Five and a half hours later, they landed safely in Appietto, Corsica.
On May 7, 1903, he had a scary moment when his balloon caught fire while being filled with gas. Luckily, he was safe.
On October 26, 1910, he piloted the Lebaudy Morning Post airship. This was during its delivery flight from Moissons to Farnborough.
His Life and Work
Before becoming a famous balloonist, Louis Capazza studied to be an engineer. He worked as a Traffic Superintendent for French Railways. In 1883, he joined the Geological Survey. Here, he studied how to build railway lines in Corsica.
A famous explorer, Savorgnan de Brazza, noticed Capazza during his 1886 balloon flight. Capazza became one of de Brazza's best helpers. He even helped found the French Congo. He was good at many things. He was a brave explorer, a territory administrator, and an organizer of big businesses. He also worked with banking, mining, and railway companies. Later, he became a financial advisor in Morocco.
He was chosen to be a member of the Council of the French Bank of Africa. Then, he became a Superior Council of the Colonies. He was also an administrator for the company Radio-France. He even played a role in diplomacy. In 1911, during a disagreement between France and Germany over Morocco, he showed great skill. He suggested exchanging a territory in Congo for German rights in Morocco. This idea helped lead to a treaty that avoided war.
In 1913, he was elected president of the Airships Commission of the French Aero Club.
Special Awards and Recognition
Louis Capazza received the Croix de Chevalier de son ordre from King Leopold II of Belgium. This award was for his research on making balloon flights safer. In 1925, the city of Paris honored him with the 'Officer of the Legion of Honour'. He also became the vice-president of the French Association of aerial navigation.
Remembering His Achievements
There are two special plaques that remember Capazza's amazing flight across the Mediterranean Sea. In Corsica, a monument was opened on October 28, 1928. It is located at the San Bastiano pass.
In Marseilles, on the edge of the Saint-Michel plain, another inscription was placed. This one was created by sculptor Botinelly and architect Manor house. It was dedicated to the two travelers, Capazza and Fondère. It was put there by the Ministry for Air, the General Council of the Rhone delta, the Flying-club of France, and the cities of Ajaccio, Bastia, and Marseilles on November 16, 1930.
See also
In Spanish: Louis Capazza para niños
- List of works by Louis Botinelly
