Raymonde de Laroche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raymonde de Laroche
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Raymonde de Laroche in August 1909
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Elise Raymonde Deroche
22 August 1882 Paris, France
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| Died | 18 July 1919 (aged 36) Le Crotoy airfield, France
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| Occupation | Aviator |
Raymonde de Laroche (born August 22, 1882 – died July 18, 1919) was a brave French pilot. Many people believe she was the first woman ever to fly an airplane. She made history on March 8, 1910, by becoming the world's first licensed female pilot.
She received the 36th pilot's license from the Aero-Club of France. This was the first group in the world to give out pilot licenses. Back then, you only needed a license if you flew planes for business.
Growing Up and Dreams
Raymonde de Laroche was born on August 22, 1882, in Paris, France. Her birth name was Elise Raymonde Deroche. Her father was a plumber.
Even as a child, she loved sports. When she got older, she also enjoyed motorcycles and cars. As a young woman, she became an actress. She used the stage name "Raymonde de Laroche."
She was very inspired by Wilbur Wright. He showed off his amazing powered flights in Paris in 1908. Raymonde also knew many aviators, including Léon Delagrange. Because of all this, Raymonde de Laroche was determined to learn how to fly herself!
Her Amazing Flights
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In October 1909, Raymonde asked her friend, Charles Voisin, to teach her to fly. Charles was an aviator and built airplanes. On October 22, 1909, she went to the Voisin brothers' airfield. It was about 90 miles (145 km) east of Paris.
Voisin's airplane only had one seat. So, Raymonde flew the plane by herself. Charles stood on the ground and gave her instructions. After she learned to move the plane on the ground, she took off! She flew about 300 yards (274 meters).
Many people say this was the first flight by a woman in a powered airplane. Some other women had flown as passengers before. But Raymonde was the first to actually pilot the plane.
A magazine called Flight reported on her amazing flight. They said she had only flown once before as a passenger. When she first took the controls, Charles Voisin told her not to fly. But after moving the plane on the ground twice, she took off! She flew "ten or fifteen feet high" with great skill.
The Flight magazine also started calling her "Baroness" de Laroche. She was not actually from a noble family. But the name stuck, and people often called her that.
On March 8, 1910, Raymonde de Laroche made history again. She became the first woman in the world to get a pilot's license! The Aero-Club of France gave her license #36.
Raymonde flew in many airshows. She went to Heliopolis in Egypt, and also to Saint Petersburg, Budapest, and Rouen. In St. Petersburg, the Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, personally congratulated her.
In July 1910, Raymonde was flying at an airshow in Reims, France. Her airplane crashed, and she was badly hurt. Everyone worried if she would recover. But two years later, she was well again and back to flying!
On September 26, 1912, she was in a car crash with Charles Voisin. Charles was killed, and Raymonde was seriously injured again.
On November 25, 1913, Raymonde won the Aero-Club of France's Coupe Femina. This was for a non-stop flight that lasted over 4 hours!
During World War I, women were not allowed to fly in combat. So, Raymonde became a military driver. She drove officers to the front lines, even under fire.
In June 1919, Raymonde de Laroche set two new records for women. She flew to an altitude of 15,700 feet (4,785 meters). She also set a distance record, flying 201 miles (323 km).
Her Final Flight and Legacy
On July 18, 1919, Raymonde de Laroche went to the airfield at Le Crotoy. She was a very talented engineer. She planned to become the first female test pilot. She was flying an experimental aircraft. As it was landing, the plane crashed. Both Raymonde de Laroche and the other pilot died.
Today, there is a statue of Raymonde de Laroche at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in France. It honors her amazing achievements.
Every year, from March 6 to 12, people celebrate Women of Aviation Worldwide Week. This week includes March 8, which is the day Raymonde de Laroche received her pilot's license. It celebrates women in aviation and encourages more girls to fly!
See also
In Spanish: Raymonde de Laroche para niños
