Henri Farman

Henri Farman ( born May 26, 1874 in Paris, † July 18, 1958 ) was a French racing cyclist, aviation pioneer and entrepreneur.

Life

Training

Born the son of a wealthy English parents - his father was an English newspaper correspondent in Paris - Farman began an apprenticeship as an artist, but was interested in soon for the latest achievements of technology and for the sport.

So he played first bike race and became a French stayer Master. With the rise of the turn of the 20th century automobile race, he began a career as a racing driver in a Panhard & Levassor initially. Later he moved into a Renault.

Aviation pioneer and entrepreneur

An accident Farman turned now towards flying and acquired in 1907 as one of its first customers an engine airplane constructor Gabriel Voisin of. Instant Farman began with his brother Maurice to modify this machine. He named the aircraft after making these changes Voisin - Farman I. On 26 October 1907 he won in this aircraft in Issy -les -Moulineaux the world speed record for land planes at 52.7 km / h

On January 13, 1908 Henri Farman achieved the first powered flight in the world over a distance of one kilometer. For this achievement, he was awarded the " Grand Prix d'Aviation " by Archdeacon and the worth 50,000 francs German Prize. In the following years he was able to increase the flying distance covered up to 24.125 km. Farman was also the world's first passenger transported on 29 March 1908 in an airplane: Léon Delagrange.

In 1908, Henri Farman operated a flight school in Buc near Versailles, and in 1912 he founded with his brothers Maurice, who had previously designed aircraft in Buc, and Richard an aircraft manufacturing company in Boulogne -Billancourt. They made there first the characteristic of them biplane with pressure screw her, which were mainly used for military purposes and training flights.

In mid-November 1910 he taught (probably the first ) a passenger aircraft by a line between Buc, where his workshops were and Etampes, where his airfield was. The route with a distance of 40 km was marked by flags.

Farman aircraft took on the Allied side in World War I as a reconnaissance and observation equipment part. The best known were the Farman Farman MF11 and the MF7. The MF7 was designed as reconnaissance planes, while the MF11 a lightweight fighter and was nicknamed " Shorthorn " was wearing. Both models were two-seat biplane.

After the First World War Farman went into the passenger aircraft. His most famous model, the twin-engine Farman F.60 ' Goliath ' of 1919, broke several flying records.

In 1919, Henri Farman was the basis of merit for the French aviation the title " Knight of the Legion of Honor ." On 8 February 1919 he founded with his brother Maurice, the first scheduled airline " Ligne Farman " which later became Air France.

In 1937, a year after the nationalization of the French aerospace industry, including his company to Farman withdrew from the commercial aircraft business. The company operates under the name S.N.C.A.C. ( Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Centre ) on. Before becoming the machines bore the names of Farmans to model designation.