Henry de La Vaulx (1870–1930), was a balloonist, author, and cofounder of major French and international aeronautical associations.

Biography

He was born in Bierville, France on April 2, 1870. From March 1896 to May 1897 he stayed with native tribes in

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, and later wrote a book about this experience. In 1898, he co-founded the Aero Club of France with Ernest Archdeacon,

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, Henri de la Valette, Jules Verne, Honorine de Viane Morel Verne,

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, Albert de Dion,

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, and

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. On Oct 9, 1900 he and a companion set a distance record in a balloon traveling 1200 miles from

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near Kiev (Now

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, then in

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) in 35.75 hours. Also in 1900 he received the Grand Medal of the Aero Club of France for exceptional contributions to the progress of aviation. In 1905 he cofounded and became a director of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). The FAI now awards the De la Vaulx Medal, named for him. He visited the United States several times for ballooning ventures and the ''New York Times'' described him as one of the "most successful and daring balloonists in the world." He developed airships for the Zodiac company. He published a dozen books, mostly on aviation. He lived in the castle

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, Paris, Hachette, 1901 * ''Les Anciens Habitants des rives du Colhué Huapi (Patagonie)'', Paris, Leroux, 1902 * ''La Montagne d'amour : tableau de la vie Araucane'', .l.s.n. 1902 * ''L’Emploi des ballons à ballonnet d’après la théorie du général Meusnier'', Paris, Gauthier-Villars, 1903 * ''L’Aérostation'', Paris, Larousse, 1906 * ''Le Tour du monde de deux gosses ; le chemin des nuages'', Paris, Tallandier, 1908 * ''Le Triomphe de la navigation aérienne'', Paris, Tallandier, 1911 * ''Les Vainqueurs de l’air ; histoire de l’aéronautique: ses débuts sportifs, son application militaire, sa réalisation commerciale'', Paris, Hachette, 1921 * ''L’Aéronautique des origines à 1922'', Paris, Floury, 1922 * ''Cent Mille Lieues dans les airs'', Paris, Arthéme Fayard, 1925 * ''Joseph et Étienne de Montgolfier'', Paris, Annonay, 1926 * ''Un Tour du monde en aéroplane'', Paris, Albin Michel, 1930 * ''Bibliothèque de feu M. le comte Henry de La Vaulx'', Paris, Bosse, 1930

Legacy

* His name was given to a

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famously flown across the South Atlantic by

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Naming and lexicography

* He was often referred to as "comte de La Vaulx." Comte is a French title analogous to the British title "Count." * His first name is sometimes written as Henri, the usual French spelling, but on the book cover at left, he used the spelling "Henry." * His name is usually alphabetized as La Vaulx, Henry de.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:La Vaulx, Henry de 1870 births 1930 deaths Aviation pioneers Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Balloon flight record holders French aviation record holders French balloonists Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1930