Marie Goldschmidt aka Mme. (Gustave) Goldschmidt born Marie Kann (1880–1917) was a French aeronaut who co-piloted a balloon world distance record in 1913 of over 2,400km. She was the first woman to enter an Fédération Aéronautique Internationale balloon race when she finished sixth in the Gordon Bennett Cup.
Marie Goldschmidt | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) in 1911 when ballooning with Marie Surcouf | |
| Born | Marie Eugenia Kann 1880 |
| Died | 1917 |
| Nationality | French |
| Other names | Madame Gustave Goldschmidt |
| Known for | an aeronaut and world distance record holder |
| Spouse | Gustave Goldschmidt |
Early life
editMarie Kann was born in 1880 to Maximilien Edouard Hirsch Kann (1842-1901) and Saraline KÖNIGSWARTER (1849-1925). She married Gustave Goldschmidt and frequently used his name as "Madame Gustave Goldschmidt".[1]
Ballooning
editGoldschmidt came to notice as a balloonist.[2] In 1911 she was flying with Marie Surcouf, President of the French balloon club for women aeronauts known as "La Stella";[3] and with Beatrix de Rijk, an Indonesian Dutch balloon pilot, first Dutch woman to earn an aviator pilot's license. She was a member of the Aéroclub féminin la Stella, a women's flying club set up by Marie Surcouf in 1909, and was on the managing committee.[4]
She set out with René Rumpelmayer in 1913 and their balloon travelled over 2,400km[5] from St Cloud near Paris to a landing in Russia.[6] When they arrived in Russia they were given a reception by Robert Fulda and Stephan Ivanovitch Osoviecki of the Sports Club of the Moscow Imperial Aeronautics Society.[7]
Later that year she and Rumpelmayer entered the eighth annual balloon distance competition (The Gordon Bennett Cup) in October 1913. The competition had begun in 1906 and it continues each year as the "premier event of world balloon racing". The first woman to enter this competition was Goldschmidt,[8] in fact she was the first woman to enter any Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) balloon race anywhere.[9] They set off from Paris and finished out of twenty one entries. They travelled 437km and they were the best French team.[10]
It took until the 1980s before a woman pilot, Nini Boesman, would fly in that competition.[8]
Goldschmidt's exploits as an aeronaut ceased when the First World War broke out. She died in 1917 whilst working as a nurse.[11]
References
edit- ^ "G - Who's Who of Ballooning". www.ballooninghistory.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ^ "Aerostation". Le Figaro. 16 July 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ photographique (commanditaire), Agence Rol Agence (1911). "17-9-11, [St Cloud], [VIIe] Grand prix de l'Aéro [Club de France], Mme Surcouf et Goldschmidt, Stella III [ballon] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]". Gallica. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Lebow, Eileen F. (2002). Before Amelia : women pilots in the early days of aviation (1st ed.). Washington, D.C.: Brassey's, Inc. ISBN 978-1-61234-225-2. OCLC 755569874.
- ^ Flying. Flying Association at the Office of the Aero Club of America. 1914. p. 29.
- ^ Aeronautics in the Army: Hearings Before the Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives, Sixty-third Congress, First Session, in Connection with H.R. 5304, May 16, 1913, Entitled "An Act to Increase the Efficiency of the Aviation Service of the Army, and for Other Purposes." August 12, 14, 15, and 16, 1913. U.S. Government Printing Office, United States Congress House Committee on Military Affairs. 1913. p. 266.
- ^ "Moscow Balloon Flight Record Rumpelmayer Goldschmidt Old Photos 21 March 1913 by Anonymous: Photograph | Bits of Our Past Ltd". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ a b "Part K, Famous Females". www.ballong.org. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ^ David, Shayler; Moule, Ian A. (2006-08-29). Women in Space - Following Valentina. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-84628-078-8.
- ^ "8th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett – Gordon Bennett Legend & History". Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ^ Avigliano, Marisa (2016-12-22). "La mujer del aire | rescates". Pagina12. Retrieved 2021-11-05.