1872-1910 (French Pilot's Licence No. 3)
Ferdinand Léon Delagrange was born in Orléans in central
France on March 13th, 1872, son of the owner of a textile factory.
Before becoming a pilot Delagrange was a famous sculptor. He had
studied at the Academie des Beaux Arts in Paris and was represented at
several exhibitions. In 1907 he became interested in flying and became
one of the true pioneers of powered flight. He was the first to order
an aeroplane from the Voisin brothers, enabling them to get established
as manufacturers.
In 1908 he toured Italy and made flight demonstrations. During these he
on 8 July made the world's first flight with a lady passenger, his
partner and fellow sculptor Thérèse Peltier. Later during the year he
set distance and endurance records.
He participated in the world's first air race at Port-Aviation on
23 May 1909, and a further couple of race meetings during that year. In
addition to his original Voisins he also bought three Blériot XIs, and
formed a team by recruiting Hubert Le Blon, Léon Molon and Georges
Prévoteau. He also flew in several non-competitive meetings. He was the
first to equip a Blériot XI with a 50 hp Gnôme engine in place of the
25 hp Anzani, thereby doubling its power.
Léon Delagrange was killed on January 4th, 1910, during a display at
Croix d'Hins outside Bordeaux, when his Gnôme-engined Blériot XI
lost a wing. He was the world's fourth pilot to lose his life in an
airplane accident.
When the first French "Brevets de Pilote" where granted in
1910, Delagrange received No. 3, based on the alphabetic order between
the first fourteen holders.
Léon Delagrange participated in the following air race
meetings:
- Port-Aviation 23 May 1909
- Port-Aviation 30 May - 3 June 1909
- Reims 1909
- Spa 1909
- Doncaster 1909