Assen (Jerry) Jordanoff Bulgarian-American inventor, engineer and aviator. Date of Birth: 02.09.1896 Country: USA

1. Biography of Asen (Jerry) Jordanov
2. Early Life and Education
3. Aviation Career
4. Military Service and Achievements
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Asen (Jerry) Jordanov

Asen Jordanov, also known as Jerry, was a Bulgarian-American inventor, engineer, and aviator. He played a significant role in the development of Bulgarian aviation and made contributions to the American aviation industry.

Early Life and Education

Jordanov dreamt of flying from a young age. As a child, he constructed kites, and as he grew older, he attended physics lectures at a local university. During his teenage years, Jordanov invented a "dark box," a simple replacement for a darkroom used by photographers. His father's travels to Italy, Switzerland, and France exposed him to various modes of transportation, including motorcycles. He spent some time studying in a school in Geneva, where he learned French, before returning to Bulgaria.

Aviation Career

At the age of 16, Jordanov built his first functioning glider in 1912. Although the exact date of its first flight is unknown, he successfully conducted a second test flight in front of an official commission on December 5th. Shortly after, Jordanov was invited to Paris, where the Salon de l'Aviation took place that year. He saw this as an opportunity to find a way into the renowned Blériot school in Étampes. With the help of the distinguished Bulgarian pilot Simeon Petrov, who introduced him to Louis Blériot personally, Jordanov managed to gain valuable lessons and interact with notable aviators and aviation engineers.

Military Service and Achievements

After his graduation, Jordanov, like other Bulgarian students, received the unpleasant news of an impending attack on Bulgaria by the Turks during the First Balkan War. He volunteered to serve in the army, primarily as a driver and mechanic. His knowledge of aircraft construction proved useful during this time. Jordanov's greatest achievement was the development of the first Bulgarian airplane. He went on to serve in the Bulgarian Air Force in World War I and received several awards for his bravery.

Later Years and Legacy

In May 1921, Jordanov and his friend Alexander Stoyanov heard about an unusual American competition offering a prize of one million dollars for the first person to circumnavigate the world in 100 days. With the support of the Bulgarian Prime Minister, they prepared for the competition. Unfortunately, they were the only applicants, and the contest was canceled. Jordanov, however, decided to stay in America and, despite his limited knowledge of English, settled there. After working odd jobs for a while, he gained experience, learned the language, and attended university courses in aviation. Jordanov became a highly respected engineer, consulting with Thomas Edison himself. After 1940, his career took off, leading him to create successful enterprises and develop unique aircraft models. He also authored detailed instructional manuals for aviation engineers. Jordanov remained active in aviation until his retirement in 1962.