Hubert Latham

Hubert Latham
Born	10 January 1883
Died	7 June 1912

Hubert Latham and his Antoinette monoplane

Hubert Latham (10 January 1883 - 7 June 1912) was an early French aviation pioneer. He is credited with being the first individual to land an airplane on water during the first of two attempts to cross the English Channel solo.

Biography

Latham was a gentleman of inherited wealth who listed his occupation as "man of the world" He had crossed the English Channel in a balloon during 11-12 February 1905, with his cousin Jacques Faure and raced motorboats before becoming a pilot. In 1908 he teamed up with engine builder Leon Levavasseur and financier Jules Gastambide to promote and exploit the Antoinette monoplane. The aircraft were powered by Levavasseur's engines which were also called Antoinettes. The Antoinette name coming from Gastambide's daughter who gave the company her name. Latham would pilot different variants of the Antoinette to fame and renown both in Europe and the United States.

On 19 July 1909, Latham made his first attempt to cross the English Channel to win a 1,000 pound (US$5,000 1910) prize offered by the Daily Mail. The aircraft suffered an engine failure and Latham performed the first landing of an aircraft on the sea. The aircraft suffered little damage and repairs were made to prepare for another attempt. On the morning of July 25 1909, while Latham was still asleep in his hotel room, Louis Bleriot successfully crossed the English Channel. Latham made his second attempt to cross the channel on July 27 but was forced to land in the sea once again, this time badly damaging the Antoinette but escaping serious injury.

Death

Latham died in Chad in 1912. His death is officially reported to have been caused by being mauled by a wounded buffalo. However, the commander of the Colonial French Army fortress at Fort Archambault, who retrieved his body after his death was reported by his bearers, found that Latham had sustained a single head wound and saw no marks on or around Latham's body consistent with a rampaging buffalo. However, as the bearers would not change their story and, as there were no other witnesses, the story was accepted as stated.

Achievements

Latham participated in the Grande Semaine de L'Aviation de la Champagne in October 1909 at Reims, France, winning the altitude prize in an Antoinette IV at an altitude of Template:M to ft

On 7 January 1910, in Mourmelon, France, Latham climbed to an altitude of Template:Ft to m, more than Template:Ft to m more than his previous world record and beyond previous claims of unofficial records.

Legacy

A statue was erected to Latham's memory by the French. This statue is at the English Channel near Dunkirk.

Notes

The statue is beside the road along the cliffs from Dover to Boulogne

References

• Grant, R.G. (2004) [2002]. "Chapter 1 - Age of the Pioneers: Section 3 - Flying Takes Off". In David Summers (ed.). Flight: 100 Years of Aviation (in UK English). Nigel Ritchie, David-Tombesi-Walton. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. pp. 38-46. ISBN 1-4053-0575-4. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• "UP 3,600 FEET IN AEROPLANE". The New York Times. 1910-01-08. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
• "In Memoriam: LATHAM DIES IN AFRICA, 1912". http://www.earlyaviators.com/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-28. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)

Biographies

• Hubert Latham: Forgotten Aviator by Barbara Walsh c.2007 ISBN 10: 0752443186, ISBN 13: 9780752443188
• Windkiller by Stephen H. King c. 2004 ISBN 10: 1595710108, ISBN 13: 9781595710109