Santos Dumont's biography

Aviation's father

Alberto Santos Dumont was born in July, 1873 in Minas Gerais' countryside. Son of Francisca dos Santos and Henrique Dumont, a rich contractor and coffee's farmer; he passed his infancy enclosed with Júlio Verne's work.

He went to French with 25 years old study physics, especially mechanics electricity.

In 1898, his first baloon (baloon Brazil) flew above the Paris' heaven.

In 1901, Santos Dumont got arounded the Eiffel Tower and returned for the starting point in less then 30 minutes.

In 1906, he took off with a equipment plus weight air, without a help of baloon. The 14-BIS, his first plane, got mischievous for the Bagatelle's field. It raised above 2 meters high, along 60 meters.

During 10 years, Santos Dumont built 20 baloons and airplanes. His last flight was with the Demoiselle, his plane of number 20, similar to the ultralight's today.

In 1931, he returned to Brazil for life in Petrópolis (Rio de Janeiro) at a home where actualy is the Museum Santos Dumont. In the next year, the tragic death. In July, 1932, with 59 years old, he suicided at a hotel's room in Guarujá, coast of São Paulo.

He endured of 2 serious disease and was imersed in despair with the warlike use of the plane.
But his name is thrust in history.

Moreover, he also invented the wristwath - a form of better control the flight's time.

14-BIS ( the first flight of a plane)

Baloon Brazil

Eiffel Tower outline

Some people believe Wright brothers invented the plane.
The first flight of Santos Dumont happened in October, 1906. And the first flight realized by wright brothers happened in December, 1903.

At a pioneer flight of Santos Dumont, thousands people were in Bagatelles' field. The flight had photographed and the big victory had published over the more importants newspaper of the world.
At a flight of Wright brothers, over their self biography, were presents only five witness.Nothing had filmed and published in north-american press. Alone after some years, they had exibit photograps of take-off.

In 1906 had exist a reward for a flight of 25 meters of distance, it's confirmed until then anyone person got executed the mission.
In truth, the 'plane' of Wright brothers was a 'glider', it didn't motor.

Santos Dumont is, alone the historical justice, the aviation's father!