Henry Farman
Encyclopedia
Henri Farman
Henri Farman (26 May 1874 – 17 July 1958 was a French pilot
, aviator
and aircraft designer and manufacturer with his brother Maurice Farman
. His family was British and he took French nationality in 1937.
, and at the turn of the century he discovered motor racing, competing for Renault
in the Gordon Bennett Cup
.
When Voisin
brothers made powered aircraft for sale, the Voisin 1907 biplane, Farman was one of their first customers. He set numerous official records for both distance and duration. These include the first to fly a complete circuit of 1 kilometre (13 January 1908, winning the 50,000 franc Grand Prix d'Aviation offered by Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe
) and 2 kilometres (21 March 1908). On 29 March he became the first to take passenger into the air, Leon Delagrange
. Later in 1908, on 30 October, Farman went on to make the first cross-country flight in Europe, flying from Châlons
to Rheims (27 kilometres in 20 minutes).
In 1909, he opened a flying school at Châlons-sur-Marne at which George Bertram Cockburn
was the first pupil. The same year he made further record breaking flights of 180 kilometres in just over 3 hours (at Rheims on 27 August) and 232 kilometres in 4 hours 17 minutes and 53 seconds (at Mourmelon-le-Grand
on 3 November). On 28 August, he was the pilot of the first 3-person flight when he carried 2 passengers for 10 kilometres.
In partnership with his two brothers Maurice
and Richard (Dick)
, he built a highly successful and innovative aircraft manufacturing plant. Their 1914 model was used extensively for artillery observation and reconnaissance during World War I. The Farman Aircraft company's Goliath
was the first long-distance passenger airliner
, beginning regular Paris-London (Croydon Airport
) flights on 8 February 1919.
He was made a chevalier
of the French Légion d'honneur (French: "Legion of Honour") in 1919. He, along with Maurice, retired in 1937 when the French Popular Front government nationalised the aircraft industry; Farman's company becoming part the Societe Nationale de Constructions Aeronautiques du Centre.
Henry Farman took French nationality in 1937. He died in Paris and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy in Paris.
Henri Farman (26 May 1874 – 17 July 1958 was a French pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and aircraft designer and manufacturer with his brother Maurice Farman
Maurice Farman
Maurice Alain Farman was a French Grand Prix motor racing champion, an aviator, and an aircraft manufacturer and designer.-Biography:...
. His family was British and he took French nationality in 1937.
Biography
Born in Paris, France, and given the name Henry, he was the son of a well-to-do British newspaper correspondent working there and his French wife. Farman trained as a painter at the École des Beaux Arts, but quickly become obsessed with the new mechanical inventions that were rapidly appearing at the end of the 19th century. Since his family had the money, he was able to pursue this interest as an amateur sportsman. In the 1890s he became a championship cyclistCycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, and at the turn of the century he discovered motor racing, competing for Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
in the Gordon Bennett Cup
Gordon Bennett Cup in auto racing
As one of three Gordon Bennett Cups established by James Gordon Bennett, Jr., millionaire owner of the New York Herald, the automobile racing award was first given in 1900 in France....
.
When Voisin
Voisin
- Companies :*Avions Voisin, the French automobile company*Voisin , the French aircraft manufacturer- People :*Catherine Monvoisin, known as "La Voisin" , French sorceress during the reign of Louis XIV...
brothers made powered aircraft for sale, the Voisin 1907 biplane, Farman was one of their first customers. He set numerous official records for both distance and duration. These include the first to fly a complete circuit of 1 kilometre (13 January 1908, winning the 50,000 franc Grand Prix d'Aviation offered by Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe
Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe
Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe was a successful French petroleum businessman and an avid supporter of early aviation...
) and 2 kilometres (21 March 1908). On 29 March he became the first to take passenger into the air, Leon Delagrange
Léon Delagrange
Léon Delagrange Léon Delagrange Léon Delagrange (Ferdinand Léon Delagrange; March 13, 1873 was a pioneer French aviator and also a sculptor .He was born at Orléans and studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris...
. Later in 1908, on 30 October, Farman went on to make the first cross-country flight in Europe, flying from Châlons
Chalons
Chalons may refer to:Places* Châlons, in France's Isère département* Châlons-en-Champagne, formerly Châlons-sur-Marne, in the Marne département* Chalon-sur-Saône, in the Saône-et-Loire département* Roman Catholic Diocese of Châlons...
to Rheims (27 kilometres in 20 minutes).
George Bertram Cockburn
George Bertram Cockburn OBE was a research chemist who became an aviation pioneer. He represented Great Britain in the first international air race at Rheims and co-founded the first aerodrome for the army at Larkhill. He also trained the first four pilots of what was to become the Fleet Air...
was the first pupil. The same year he made further record breaking flights of 180 kilometres in just over 3 hours (at Rheims on 27 August) and 232 kilometres in 4 hours 17 minutes and 53 seconds (at Mourmelon-le-Grand
Mourmelon-le-Grand
Mourmelon-le-Grand is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.-Camp Châlons:'Camp Châlons' is a military camp of circa 10,000 hectares nearby Mourmelon-le-Grand...
on 3 November). On 28 August, he was the pilot of the first 3-person flight when he carried 2 passengers for 10 kilometres.
In partnership with his two brothers Maurice
Maurice Farman
Maurice Alain Farman was a French Grand Prix motor racing champion, an aviator, and an aircraft manufacturer and designer.-Biography:...
and Richard (Dick)
Richard Farman
Richard 'Dick' Farman was a French aeronautical engineer, aviator, and one of the Farman brothers who were pioneers of early aviation. He also known as Dick Farman, or Richard Farman.-biography:...
, he built a highly successful and innovative aircraft manufacturing plant. Their 1914 model was used extensively for artillery observation and reconnaissance during World War I. The Farman Aircraft company's Goliath
Farman F.60 Goliath
The Farman F.60 Goliath was an airliner produced by the Farman Aviation Works from 1919. It was instrumental in the creation of early airlines and commercial routes in Europe after World War I.-Design and development:...
was the first long-distance passenger airliner
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
, beginning regular Paris-London (Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
) flights on 8 February 1919.
He was made a chevalier
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of the French Légion d'honneur (French: "Legion of Honour") in 1919. He, along with Maurice, retired in 1937 when the French Popular Front government nationalised the aircraft industry; Farman's company becoming part the Societe Nationale de Constructions Aeronautiques du Centre.
Henry Farman took French nationality in 1937. He died in Paris and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy in Paris.
See also
- Farman Aviation Works
- Farman IIIFarman III|-See also:-Bibliography:*Opdycke, Leonard E French Aeroplanes Before the Great War Atglen, PA: Schiffer 1999 ISBN 0 7643 0752 5-External links:**...
(1909) - Farman F.60 Goliath
- Farman F.121 Jabiru
- Farman F.170 JabiruFarman F.170 JabiruThe Farman F.170 Jabiru was a 1925 single-engine airliner evolved from the F.121 Jabiru, built by the Farman Aviation Works.-Design and development:...
- Farman F.222Farman F.222|-See also:-Bibliography:* Ketley, Barry, French Aces of WWII, Osprey Publishing, p. 45* William Green, War Planes of the Second World War, Volume 8, 1967...
- Farman F 402Farman F 402-See also:-External links:**...
- Léon LemartinLéon LemartinThéodore Clovis Edmond Lemartin, known as Léon Lemartin was a pioneer aviator who set a world record on 3 February 1911 at Pau, France when he carried seven passengers in a Bleriot XIII Aerobus...
– Farman's support engineer for the Gnome OmegaGnome Omega|-See also:-Bibliography:* Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6....
rotary engine.