Albert C. Triaca (1875 – ?) was an Italian balloonist, pioneer
aviator, and businessman.
Triaca grew up in Italy as the son of a wealthy Naval Officer. He started as a student of the
École polytechnique de l'université Paris-Sud where he created an aircraft that was submitted to the war department for development. Triaca flew a balloon in France to qualify as a French pilot for competition, but had the balloon escape after landing from a two-hour flight. He traveled to America in 1908 to become director of the New York School of Automotive Engineers.
Triaca was an early Balloonist, marketing Stevens balloons in America. He provided a gold medal for the Aero Club of America balloon competition of 1909. The same year his French wife formed a woman's balloon club and participated in balloon events with her husband. On 1 May 1908, Triaca provided a balloon to the
New York Air National Guard providing the first flights of the oldest National Guard unit in the United States.
Albert C. Triaca founded the International School of Aeronautics in
Paris, France
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
and New York in 1908. Triaca demonstrated models and slide shows of the latest aeronautic developments in America and France. Facilities included a hydrogen generator for balloons and dirigibles, and sleds to wind test propellers. Triaca moved the school to
Garden City, New York, near the
Hempsted Plains Aerodrome. He developed an early experimental water cooled biplane in 1909 tested at
Morris Park, Bronx intended to fly at the 1910
Gorden Bennett race. He also competed that year in the
Aero Club of America
The Aero Club of America was a social club formed in 1905 by Charles Jasper Glidden and Augustus Post, among others, to promote aviation in America. It was the parent organization of numerous state chapters, the first being the Aero Club of New ...
competition, earning the tenth balloon license issued by the organization.
Triaca partnered with Sidney B. Bowman Automobile company to market the
Bayard
Bayard may refer to:
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* Bayard (given name)
* Bayard (surname)
*Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard (1473–1524) French knight
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dirigible,
Antoinette motor, Stevens balloon,
Curtiss motors and Chauvire aeroplane. He also listed himself as an aeronautical engineer to the New York-based Church Airplane company in 1910.
Triaca eventually separated from the Aero Club of America because he felt it was losing its interest in sport aviation. He closed the International School of Aeronautics in late 1910 to seek his fortunes in Massachusetts as president of the Aeroplane Company of America with the intention of license building
Farman
Farman Aviation Works (french: Avions Farman) was a French aircraft company founded and run by the brothers Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French national ...
aircraft. When asked about the alarming death rate of early aviators, Triaca said that "the science is right, the art is right, it is the individual who is at fault".
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Triaca, Albert C.
Aviation pioneers
1875 births
Year of death missing