The father of flight

Alberto Santos‐Dumont (1873‐1932) was born in Brazil and educated in Paris. He made his first balloon ascent in 1898 and soon after that began constructing dirigible airships. In 1901 he won a Paris air race and international fame. (After the race, he asked Louis Cartier for a timepiece that would keep his hands free‐the first wristwatch). Turning to heavier‐than‐air machines, Santos‐Dumont built his 14‐Bis in 1906. His flight was the first in Europe, and his plane was the first anywhere to lift off the ground under its own power. In 1909 Santos‐ Dumont designed the Demoiselle monoplane, the forerunner of modern light planes. In 1910 Santos‐Dumont fell ill and despondent over the use of aircraft in warfare, he committed suicide in 1932.

Adapted from “Leaders of the Century”, in Time Special Issue‐ “Latin American Leaders for the New Millennium”, May 24, 1999.

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