Mathilde Franck facts for kids

Rosalind Mathilde Franck (1866–1956) was a brave French woman who loved to fly. She was one of the very first women to learn how to pilot an airplane. Mathilde started flying in the summer of 1910, a time when aviation was brand new and exciting. Her journey as a pilot ended on August 1, 1910. This was during a flight in a Maurice Farman biplane in England.

Learning to Fly

Mathilde Franck shared her amazing experiences in a magazine article in 1911. She talked about her very first flight with a pilot named Michel Effimoff. He was one of the first people in France to get a pilot's license.

Soon after, Mathilde and her husband flew with Henri Farman. He was a famous pilot who tried to set a new record with two passengers. Mathilde learned to fly at the Farman brothers' airplane factory near Paris. This was where many early pilots trained.

Early Flight Attempts

On July 20, 1910, Mathilde set a record for a non-stop flight. She flew 14 miles at Mourelon. After this, she hoped to fly across the English Channel. This was a very challenging flight for early aviators. However, bad weather stopped her from trying this big adventure.

Flights in England

In late July 1910, Mathilde traveled to the north of England. The manager of the Empire Theatre in Sunderland invited her. He wanted her to show off her flying skills at the Boldon Races. People were very excited to see a woman pilot.

On July 30, 1910, Mathilde made a flight of one and a half miles. This was a big achievement. It was the longest distance a woman had flown in the United Kingdom at that time.

An Unexpected End

On the following Monday, Mathilde tried to fly again. Sadly, her plane hit a flagstaff. The aircraft crashed to the ground. This accident brought her flying career to a sudden end. She never got an official pilot's license.

Mathilde Franck passed away in 1956.