1895-1965 |
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Piloting a Comte AC-2 when he was an aircraft builder-producer Collection of Jean-Claude Cailliez, 11-10-05 Webmaster of Pionnair-GE |
via email from Gian Picco, 10-19-05 I found a nice article on this in France: At age 18 the Aero-Club of France issued him his pilot license at Villacoublay. In 1914 he followed the draft in Switzerland, served as a pilot, then as an instruction officer for military aviation. In 1916, he carried out night flights from Delement, to ward off air space violations. [Pruntrutt/Porentruit had been bombed by aircraft of unknown origin and the Infantry officer in charge had been relieved of his duty; the aircraft turned out later on to be German and Germany and France consented to a Swiss proposal to mount light-beacons along the borders to prevent further mistakes]. The subsequent stages of his career evolved in the German speaking part of Switzerland. In 1919, he founded a aero corporation that offered aerial photos and passenger services [Mittelholzer found his way into aviation as a photographer; excursion flights from Zurich to St.Moritz were performed at a regular basis] He was a frequent participant in exhibition events for acrobatic flying [The Swiss Parliament put severe restrictions on stunting and permittend only pilots of exceptionally good reputation to perform this in an orderly, scheduled setting]. In 1921 he started a school of aviation of his own. Starting from 1923 up to 1935, he concentrated on airplane design and construction. The Swiss Aircraft factory Alfred Comte became well known. During WWII he returned to military aviation duties and was promoted to captain. He managed another school of aviation from 1946 to 1950. After that he quit flying reluctantly and he died 1965 in Zurich." |
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August 1914, when the "Troupes suisses d'aviation" had been created, because of WW1. Collection of Jean-Claude Cailliez, 11-10-05 Webmaster of Pionnair-GE |
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par Louis Lachat, Président de la section Jura-Nord de l'AéCS "The fortieth birthday of our section of the Aero club of Switzerland will have been the occasion to publish this plate. It points out to us the great moments of aeronautics in the Jura and, more particularly, in Ajoie. The enthusiasm of our pioneers to overcome gravity had equal only their genius to produce flying machines. To rise in the airs, such was the goal and obsession to what they very often very sacrificed! This opuscule is the result of a long-term job undertaken by our secretary, Jean-François Nussbaumer, one impassioned of history. Two years were necessary to gather documents and files, to collect memories and anecdotes from old. We testify all our recognition to him. The edition of this booklet also gives to the section Jura-North of AéCS the opportunity to pay homage to all those which?uvré for the development of the aeronautical sports, to all those also which fight for the maintenance of an aerodrome in our splendid area. If the turning of the 20th century saw our elder taking up the challenge of the conquest of the sky, that of 21st awaits us to perfect the?uvre and to still open the horizons." Those of you who can read French can access the page by clicking on the title above. For the rest of us, once you are on the homepage, you can find the name of Alfred Comte in the list of notable events and aviators. If you click on his name, you will find his biography, in French, and two photographs. If you don't read French and was to see an English version of his biography, you can click on: |
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Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper |
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