Léon Delagrange facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Léon Delagrange
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Ferdinand Marie Léon Delagrange
13 March 1872 Orléans, France
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| Died | 4 January 1910 (aged 37) Bordeaux, France
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| Awards | Legion of Honour - Knight (21 July 1909) |
Ferdinand Marie Léon Delagrange (born March 13, 1872 – died January 4, 1910) was a talented French sculptor. He was also one of the very first people to fly airplanes, becoming one of the best pilots in the world during his time.
Contents
Early Life and Art
Léon Delagrange was born in Orléans, France, on March 13, 1872. His father owned a textile factory. As a teenager, Léon studied sculpture at a famous art school called the École des Beaux-Arts. His teachers were Louis Barrias and Charles Vital-Cornu.
His sculptures were shown in several exhibitions in Paris. He was also part of the "Society of French Artists". In 1901, he received a special award for his work. Before he became a pilot, Delagrange was also known for driving cars.
Pioneering Flights
Léon Delagrange was one of the first people in Europe to become interested in flying. In 1907, he became a pioneer in powered flight. He was one of the first to order an airplane from the Voisin brothers. This helped them become important airplane makers.
His first public flight was on March 16, 1907, in Bagatelle, France. He flew a biplane, which is an airplane with two main wings. His amazing flights quickly caught worldwide attention. He even turned down a large sum of money to perform demonstrations in the United States. In 1907, Delagrange was chosen to be the president of the Aviation Club of France.
World Records and Firsts
In 1908, Delagrange traveled around Italy to show off his flying skills. During one of these shows on July 8, 1908, he made history. He completed the world's first flight with a lady passenger. This passenger was his partner and fellow sculptor, Thérèse Peltier.
In September 1908, Delagrange set new records for distance and how long he could stay in the air. He flew 15.2 miles in just under 30 minutes. On January 7, 1909, he received one of the first pilot certificates ever given out in France. He also won a prize at Juvisy for flying 3.6 miles in about 10 minutes.
Air Races and New Aircraft
Delagrange took part in the world's first air race on May 23, 1909. This race happened at Port-Aviation. He also competed in a few other races that year. Besides his original Voisin airplane, he bought three Blériot XI planes. He even formed a team with other pilots like Hubert Le Blon.
He was the first pilot to put a more powerful engine in a Blériot XI. He changed the 25 horsepower engine to a 50 horsepower one, making the plane much faster.
Léon Delagrange competed in several air race meetings in 1909:
- Port-Aviation on May 23, 1909
- Port-Aviation from May 30 to June 3, 1909
- Reims in 1909
- Spa in 1909
- Doncaster in 1909
Doncaster Aviation Meeting
Delagrange is well-known for his flight at the First Flying Meeting in England. This event was called the Doncaster Aviation Meeting, held in October 1909. On the last day of the races, October 26, 1909, he flew his Blériot XI monoplane. A monoplane is an airplane with only one main wing.
He completed a 6-mile lap in 7 minutes and 36 seconds. This meant he was flying at about 50 to 53 miles per hour. He broke a world record that day, even though the weather was very stormy. Delagrange was one of the top pilots at the Doncaster competition.
Michelin Cup Attempt
On December 30, 1909, in Juvisy-sur-Orge, France, Delagrange tried to win the Michelin Cup. He set a new distance record for monoplanes and a new world speed record. He flew 124 miles in two hours and thirty-two minutes, averaging about 49 miles per hour. However, he did not manage to beat the distance record set by Henry Farman.
Tragic End
Sadly, Léon Delagrange died on January 4, 1910. He was flying his Blériot XI over Bordeaux, France, in very stormy weather. The winds were blowing strongly. This flight was a practice run for his plan to break Henry Farman's distance record later that day.
Delagrange had circled the airfield three times. As he was turning quickly against the wind, the left wing of his monoplane broke. The other wing then collapsed immediately. The plane fell from about 65 feet in the air. Delagrange was unable to get out of his seat. He was killed when the plane crashed and the engine crushed his skull. Even though the plane had been checked carefully, the accident was blamed on flying too fast in the strong, gusty wind.
Léon Delagrange was the fourth pilot in the world to die in an airplane crash. All four of these tragic accidents happened within a fifteen-month period. Some other pilots who competed at Doncaster also died in flying accidents in later years.
Awards and Tributes
Léon Delagrange was made president of the Aéro-Club de France in 1908. On July 21, 1909, he was honored as a Knight of the Legion of Honor. This is a very important award in France. In December 1909, he received a special medal from the French Academy of Sciences for his achievements in aviation.
When the first French "Brevets de Pilote" (pilot licenses) were given out in 1910, Delagrange received license number 3. A brewery in Doncaster even made a special beer to remember his amazing flights at the Doncaster Aviation Meeting in 1909.
Images for kids
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Delagrange, image #21, and others who died in aviation accidents before 1912
