Jorge Newbery
Encyclopedia
Jorge "George" Newbery, born Jorge Alejandro Newbery (Buenos Aires
29 May 1875 – Mendoza Province
1 March 1914), was an Argentine
pilot
of North American descent. His father, Ralph Newbery (a dentist born in 1848), emigrated from Long Island
, to Argentina after the American Civil War
(in which he is said to have taken part in the Battle of Gettysburg
) . Along with Alberto Braniff
and Jorge Chávez
, Jorge Newbery was one of the first Latin American
aircraft pilots. He was also an engineer
.
On April 9, 1909, Newbery wrote the first newspaper article on aviation
in Argentina. Entitled "Aeronáutica", the article was featured in the Buenos Aires El Nacional
.
By that time, Newbery was already a seasoned aerostat
pilot, having flown these balloons four times over the Argentinian landscape. He had not, however, been in or even seen a heavier-than-air craft before he wrote the article.
Eduardo Newbery
, one of Jorge's siblings, was also a pioneer aviator in Argentina, and a member of the Aero Club Argentino which Jorge helped found. Eduardo perished in his aerostat, thus becoming one of the first two casualties in Argentine aviation history. One month after the death of his brother, on November 24, Jorge married Sara Escalante.
Newbery had been elected second vice-president of the Aero Club Argentino after he decided to join it to help it come out of the financial crisis it was facing, but Eduardo's death
became an emotional issue and Jorge resigned shortly thereafter, though he would remain an ordinary member of the Club.
Newbery flew an aerostat
round-trip for the first time on January 24, 1909, making his second round-trip flight on April 2. Ironically, on April 27, just eighteen days after publication of the aforementioned article, he was elected president of the same Aero Club Argentino which he had previously served as second vice-president. Newbery accepted, with the hope of turning around the club's dire situation.
Newbery had promised both his mother and his wife that he would not attempt to fly again after his brother's aerial death. The article that he wrote in 1909 showed his family that he had broken that promise, resulting in his divorce
from Escalante, with whom he had at least one child.
He took part in the Exposición Internacional del Centenario (1910)
in Buenos Aires by making balloon ascents over the exhibition so that visitors could view the surrounding area of Palermo
and the river.
By 1910, engine-propelled aircraft began to arrive in Argentina, and Newbery was first in line to fly them. In 1912, Argentina became the first country in Latin America
to promote a militarized
air force
, the culmination of an effort in which Newbery was one of the driving forces.
Jorge Newbery died as a result of an airplane crash on March 1, 1914, in the Argentine province of Mendoza. His name is still widely recognized in Argentina, where the second largest airport
, the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery
in Buenos Aires
, is named after him.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
29 May 1875 – Mendoza Province
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
1 March 1914), was an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
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...
of North American descent. His father, Ralph Newbery (a dentist born in 1848), emigrated from Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, to Argentina after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
(in which he is said to have taken part in the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
) . Along with Alberto Braniff
Alberto Braniff
Alberto Braniff was a Mexican airplane pilot.Braniff was born in a wealthy and powerful family in Mexico during the Porfirio Diaz era. His father was the industrial Thomas Braniff, who came to Mexico to build the Veracruz railroad. Alberto went to study in Europe, where aviation flourished as he...
and Jorge Chávez
Jorge Chávez
Jorge Chávez Dartnell , also known as Géo Chávez, was a Franco – Peruvian aviator. At a young age, he achieved fame for his aeronautical feats...
, Jorge Newbery was one of the first Latin American
Latin Americans
Latin Americans are the citizens of the Latin American countries and dependencies. Latin American countries are multi-ethnic, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds. As a result, some Latin Americans don't take their nationality as an ethnicity, but identify themselves with...
aircraft pilots. He was also an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
.
On April 9, 1909, Newbery wrote the first newspaper article on aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
in Argentina. Entitled "Aeronáutica", the article was featured in the Buenos Aires El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
.
By that time, Newbery was already a seasoned aerostat
Aerostat
An aerostat is a craft that remains aloft primarily through the use of buoyant lighter than air gases, which impart lift to a vehicle with nearly the same overall density as air. Aerostats include free balloons, airships, and moored balloons...
pilot, having flown these balloons four times over the Argentinian landscape. He had not, however, been in or even seen a heavier-than-air craft before he wrote the article.
Eduardo Newbery
Eduardo Newbery
Eduardo Federico Newbery was an Argentine odontologist and aerostat pilot of North American descent. His father Ralph Lamartine Newbery, emigrated from Long Island, New York, and settled in Argentina after the American Civil War...
, one of Jorge's siblings, was also a pioneer aviator in Argentina, and a member of the Aero Club Argentino which Jorge helped found. Eduardo perished in his aerostat, thus becoming one of the first two casualties in Argentine aviation history. One month after the death of his brother, on November 24, Jorge married Sara Escalante.
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
became an emotional issue and Jorge resigned shortly thereafter, though he would remain an ordinary member of the Club.
Newbery flew an aerostat
Aerostat
An aerostat is a craft that remains aloft primarily through the use of buoyant lighter than air gases, which impart lift to a vehicle with nearly the same overall density as air. Aerostats include free balloons, airships, and moored balloons...
round-trip for the first time on January 24, 1909, making his second round-trip flight on April 2. Ironically, on April 27, just eighteen days after publication of the aforementioned article, he was elected president of the same Aero Club Argentino which he had previously served as second vice-president. Newbery accepted, with the hope of turning around the club's dire situation.
Newbery had promised both his mother and his wife that he would not attempt to fly again after his brother's aerial death. The article that he wrote in 1909 showed his family that he had broken that promise, resulting in his divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
from Escalante, with whom he had at least one child.
He took part in the Exposición Internacional del Centenario (1910)
Exposición Internacional del Centenario (1910)
The Exposición International del Centenario was an exhibition held between May and November 1910 in Buenos Aires, to mark the centennial of the May Revolution in Argentina...
in Buenos Aires by making balloon ascents over the exhibition so that visitors could view the surrounding area of Palermo
Palermo, Buenos Aires
Palermo is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It is located in the northeast of the city, bordering the barrios of Belgrano to the north, Almagro and Recoleta to the south, Villa Crespo and Colegiales to the west and the Río de la Plata river to the east. With a total...
and the river.
By 1910, engine-propelled aircraft began to arrive in Argentina, and Newbery was first in line to fly them. In 1912, Argentina became the first country in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
to promote a militarized
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
, the culmination of an effort in which Newbery was one of the driving forces.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
, the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery
-Accidents and incidents:*On 17 December 1969, an Austral Líneas Aéreas C-46 Commando, lost engine 1 due to fuel exhaustion shortly after take-off. The plane failed to gain height and made a crash landing in a small sport field...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, is named after him.