Robert Esnault-Pelterie

Robert Esnault-Pelterie

French aircraft designer and space flight theorist
Date of Birth: 08.11.1881
Country: France

Content:
  1. Biography of Robert Esnault-Pelterie
  2. Early Aviation Experiments
  3. Contributions and Legal Battles
  4. Space Flight and Innovations
  5. Later Life and Legacy

Biography of Robert Esnault-Pelterie

Robert Albert Charles Esnault-Pelterie was a French aviation designer and space flight theorist. He was born on November 8, 1881, in Paris, France. Esnault-Pelterie attended the Faculty of Sciences at Sorbonne University in Paris, where he studied engineering. During World War I, he served in the military and was awarded the rank of officer of the Legion of Honor.

Robert Esnault-Pelterie

In November 1928, Esnault-Pelterie married Carmen Bernaldo de Quiros on board the ocean liner "Ile de France" en route to New York.

Robert Esnault-Pelterie

Early Aviation Experiments

Esnault-Pelterie's early experiments in aviation were based on the flights of the Wright brothers' glider in 1902. He conducted his first glider test on a beach near Calais but the attempt was unsuccessful. However, he independently developed the concept of ailerons and incorporated them into his own model, along with other innovations such as flaps attached to the rear spars of the wing. Ailerons have since become a standard element of maneuvering in most modern aircraft. It is worth noting that a separate group, the Aerial Experiment Association led by Alexander Graham Bell, also developed ailerons.

Robert Esnault-Pelterie

In 1906, Esnault-Pelterie began experimenting with towed flights. On September 19, 1906, he flew 500 meters. His first powered flight took place on October 10, 1907, covering a distance of only 100 meters on his model called "Pelterie I" or "R.E.P.I." The engine had eight cylinders, 30 horsepower, and an air cooling system developed by Esnault-Pelterie himself.

The trials of the "Pelterie II" monoplane started on June 8, 1908. This aircraft set a record for the longest flight, covering 1200 meters at an altitude of 30 meters. After modification, a new version of Esnault-Pelterie's aircraft was developed. The plane took off in 1909 in Rheims, but after that Esnault-Pelterie stopped flying and focused solely on the design and production of new models.

Contributions and Legal Battles

Esnault-Pelterie's family invested heavily in his projects, almost bankrupting themselves. However, he invented the joystick, a control lever for aircraft, and patented his invention. After the war, he participated in a legal battle to defend his rights to use the joystick. He won the lawsuit and received a substantial compensation from aircraft manufacturers. Esnault-Pelterie quickly became wealthy and repaid his father's investments.

Space Flight and Innovations

Esnault-Pelterie became interested in the idea of space travel, unaware of the work of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in 1903. In 1913, he prepared documents presenting the equation of rocket technology and data on the amount of energy needed for space travel to the Moon and other planets close to Earth. Esnault-Pelterie proposed the use of atomic energy, suggesting that 400 kg of radium would power the interplanetary vehicle. His seminal work, "L'Astronautique," was published in 1930. A revised version, released in 1934, included detailed information on interplanetary travel and the use of nuclear energy.

In 1929, Esnault-Pelterie proposed the idea of developing a ballistic missile for military purposes. By 1930, he and Jean-Jacques Barre convinced the French Ministry of Defense to fund the project. However, during the testing of a rocket with tetranitromethane, Esnault-Pelterie lost three fingers on his right hand due to an explosion.

Later Life and Legacy

Outside of his aviation and space exploration pursuits, Esnault-Pelterie enjoyed horseback riding, golfing, camping, and driving automobiles. He sold approximately 120 patents in various fields over the course of his life. Esnault-Pelterie passed away on December 6, 1957, in Nice, France.

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