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

ROBERT ESNAULT-PELTERIE.

Robert Esnault-Pelterie was born in 1880, and educated in the city of Paris. He early showed a mechanical turn of mind, and was interested particularly in scientific studies. He became an enthusiast in matters aeronautic, and devoted himself to the construction of gasoline engines suitable for aviation purposes. After satisfying his ideal in this direction with the now famous “R-E-P” motor, he designed a new type of flying machine which is known as the “R-E-P monoplane.” His first flights were made at Buc in October, 1907, and while they were short, they proved the possibility of steering a flying machine so that it would describe a curved line—at that time a considerable achievement among European aviators. In April, 1908, he flew for ¾ of a mile, and reached a height of 100 feet. This feat eclipsed all previous records for monoplanes.

His fame, however, rests upon his motors, which are quite original in design and construction.