Pierre de Caters
Encyclopedia
Baron Pierre de Caters was a Belgian
adventurer, aviator
and car
and motorboat racer
. He was the first Belgian to fly an aircraft
in 1908.
He was also the first Belgian to receive a pilot license from the Belgian air club on 2 December 1909 and received a gold medal for the first kilometer in the same year. He was the first aircraft manufacturer in Belgium and the first instructor of the military aviation. He also took part in car and motorboat races in Belgium and France
. Briefly in 1904, he held the World Land Speed Record, driving a DMG Mercedes Simplex
at 97.25 mph. over a 1 km. course on a beach in Ostend
, Belgium. In World War I
he joined the Belgian military aviation, commanding the flying school of Étampes
.
with two Aviator airplanes. He was accompanied by Jules Tyck, another Belgian pilot.
The city of Bombay refused the organization of an aviation meeting. Then the two airmen traveled to Calcutta with their aircraft crated. In Calcutta, de Caters flew several time from the Club of Tollygunge
. On 21 December, he flew for 27 minutes with Mrs. Sen Beil, sister of the Maharaja
of Cooch Behar
as passenger. One of the Aviators was damaged by fire. On 2 February 1911, de Caters and Tyck flew in Bangalore
. They were received by the Maharaja of Mysore. From 16–18 February, Pierre flew from Secunderabad
in the Hyderabad state
. The Indian tour was completed and Pierre de Caters returned to Europe. A little later Aviator was dissolved and the baron would not take part in competitions any more.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
adventurer, 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 car
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
and motorboat racer
Motorboat racing
Motorboat racing takes several forms:*Drag boat racing*Hydroplane racing*Jet sprint boat racing*Offshore powerboat racing*F1 Powerboat World Championship...
. He was the first Belgian to fly an aircraft
Aviation history
The history of aviation has extended over more than two thousand years from the earliest attempts in kites and gliders to powered heavier-than-air, supersonic and hypersonic flight.The first form of man-made flying objects were kites...
in 1908.
He was also the first Belgian to receive a pilot license from the Belgian air club on 2 December 1909 and received a gold medal for the first kilometer in the same year. He was the first aircraft manufacturer in Belgium and the first instructor of the military aviation. He also took part in car and motorboat races in Belgium and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Briefly in 1904, he held the World Land Speed Record, driving a DMG Mercedes Simplex
Mercedes Simplex
The Mercedes Simplex was an car produced from 1902-09 by the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft . It continued the use of the Mercedes name as the brand of DMG, rather than Daimler....
at 97.25 mph. over a 1 km. course on a beach in Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
, Belgium. In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he joined the Belgian military aviation, commanding the flying school of Étampes
Étampes
Étampes is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southwest from the center of Paris . Étampes is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne department....
.
Journey to India
On 16 November 1910, de Caters embarked to IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with two Aviator airplanes. He was accompanied by Jules Tyck, another Belgian pilot.
The city of Bombay refused the organization of an aviation meeting. Then the two airmen traveled to Calcutta with their aircraft crated. In Calcutta, de Caters flew several time from the Club of Tollygunge
Tollygunge
Tollygunge is a locality of South Kolkata. It is flanked by the Eastern Railway south suburban line to the north, Lake Gardens and Golf Green in the east, the Pashchim & Purba Putiaries in the south, and Behala in the west.-History:...
. On 21 December, he flew for 27 minutes with Mrs. Sen Beil, sister of the Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar is the district headquarters and the largest city of Cooch Behar District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and located at . Cooch Behar is the only planned town in North Bengal region with remnants of royal heritage...
as passenger. One of the Aviators was damaged by fire. On 2 February 1911, de Caters and Tyck flew in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. They were received by the Maharaja of Mysore. From 16–18 February, Pierre flew from Secunderabad
Secunderabad
Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
in the Hyderabad state
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
. The Indian tour was completed and Pierre de Caters returned to Europe. A little later Aviator was dissolved and the baron would not take part in competitions any more.