Léon Levavasseur

Léon Levavasseur ( born January 8, 1863 in Le Mesnil -au -Val, Cherbourg, France, † February 26, 1922 in Puteaux ) was a French engineer, aircraft manufacturers and inventors. His innovations include the V8 engine, direct fuel injection, and evaporative cooling of machines. He was mainly associated with the company Antoinette and also made after the bankruptcy of this manufacturer with the construction of aircraft on.

Life

Levavasseur was born in Le Mesnil -au -Val at Cherbourg, the son of a naval personnel. At first he studied fine arts, but then changed her engineering specialist with a special interest in arc lamps and gasoline engine ( internal combustion engines with ignition, gasoline engines ).

The company Antoinette

Engine companies and company formation

In the summer of 1902 Levavasseur hit the industrialist Jules Gastambide before that strong, lightweight drive machines were needed for powered flight, and campaigned for the manufacture of these motors. He also suggested that the motors should be named after Gastambides daughter Antoinette. Gastambide financed the company. Levavasseur had patented the V8 engine in the same year. Early as 1904 were most racing boats in Europe, won prices, driven by Antoinette engines. During this time he designed a wide range of engines, which had up to 32 cylinders.

The company was founded in 1906 with Antoinette Gastambide as President and Levavasseur as technical director. The vice - president was the aviation pioneer Louis Blériot. The main business of the company was the sale of engines to aircraft manufacturers.

Levavasseurs Antoinette engines often contained advanced new features, including direct fuel injection, and evaporative cooling.

Aircraft manufacturing

Levavasseur experimented with airplanes and 1906 Antoinette was commissioned to build an airplane for Captain Ferdinand Ferber. Blériot tried the directors of Antoinette prevent them from becoming an aircraft manufacturer, for fear that they would rival their own customers. Blériot left the company, as his advice was ignored.

The flights of Hubert Latham

In spring 1909, the Antoinette pilot Hubert Latham made ​​several impressive flights. That convinced Levavasseur fact that Latham cross the English Channel in an Antoinette aircraft and win the prize of the Daily Mail could. Latham made ​​in July 1909, two unsuccessful attempts to cross the Channel, both times failed the machine over the channel. Between Latham Try the former Antoinette Vice President Blériot flew successfully the channel in its own plane. This month in 1909 Levavasseur was appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

Latham's efforts to promote Levavasseurs Antoinette products, were present at the Grande Semaine de Flugwoche l'Aviation de la Champagne from 22 - 29th August 1909 in Reims successful, where he won the altitude prize, second place in the speed competition, third place in the Gordon Bennett Cup for fixed-wing aircraft and the Grand Prix Competition, when he tried the longest distance in a circle in a single continuous flight to fly. He won the second prize in an Antoinette IV and the fifth prize in an Antoinette VII

Turbulent times and the end of Antoinette

Levavasseur left the company Antoinette in November 1909., Returning in March 1910 returned as Technical Director. After his return, he designed the Antoinette military aircraft monobloc, a streamlined monoplane with cantilever wings. Because of their enormous weight, the underpowered machine was during the test flights in 1911 in Reims unable to withdraw and was rejected by the military. The company Antoinette was bankrupt shortly thereafter.

After Antoinette

Levavasseur began in late 1918 to work on an aircraft with variable wing surface. This Levavasseur won the "Safety in Aeroplanes " award and the invention was purchased by the French government.

Levavasseur died in poverty in February 1922.