How It Flies; or, The Conquest of the Air / The Story of Man's Endeavors to Fly and of the Inventions by Which He Has Succeeded

by Richard Ferris

LOUIS PAULHAN.

Louis Paulhan was, in January, 1909, a mechanic in Mourmelon, France, earning the good wages in that country of $15 per week. He became an aviator, making his first flight on July 10, 1909, of 1¼ miles. Five days later he flew over 40 miles, remaining in the air 1 hour 17 minutes, and rising to an altitude of 357 feet, then the world’s record. He flew constantly in public through the remainder of 1909, winning many prizes and breaking and making records.

In January, 1910, he was the most prominent aviator at the Los Angeles meet, and there made a new world’s record for altitude, 4,166 feet.

Within the 13 months and 3 weeks (up to October 1, 1910) that he has been flying, he has won over $100,000 in prizes, besides receiving many handsome fees for other flights and for instruction to pupils.