Rules for the inaugural Port-Aviation kite contest.
Paris, 13 mai 1909.
Entirely autographed folio (315 x 200 mm); some foxing and soiling.
Extremely rare document containing the rules for the kite contest organized to mark the inauguration of Port-Aviation on May 23, 1909.
The text, dated May 13, 1909, was written by Hugues Malenfer, General Secretary of the Société d'Encouragement à l'Aviation, which organized the contest.
It is indicated that this leaflet was distributed to subscribers of L'Echo du Cerf-Volant, one of the first aeronautical magazines founded and directed by the young Georges Houard (1893-1964). This document comes from his papers.
Houard went on to become one of the great names in the aviation press, publishing Les Ailes from 1921 to 1960.
A touching document on the competition of little pioneers to inaugurate the world's first aerodrome, at one of the very first international airshows.
The kite contest was no mere anecdote, either, as the wind blew hard and the pilots were unable to fly as much as they would have liked. Impatient and frustrated spectators enthusiastically attended the contest.
Francis Bedei et Max Joy. L'Histoire de Port-Aviation 1909-1919. Le Mée-sur-Seine, Amatteis, 1993.
3 500€
In stock
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