Giuseppe Cei

Giuseppe Cei (1889 - March 28, 1911) was an Italian aviation pioneer.

He was born in Càscina, Tuscany, and showed a precocius talent for mechanics since a very early age. He also obtained good results as fencer, winning the sabre prix in the International Contest held at Milano in 1908.

In the late 1909 he moved to Paris, France. Here he studied in the Roche School for Aeronautics and Mechanic Constructions, graduating in engineering. In the same period he started to fly planes at the Issy-les-Moulineaux airfield.

On January 1, 1911 he received the 35th license as pilot in Italy. Later his aerobatic performances in Paris, riding a Farman biplane, led the French President Armand Fallières define him "Le roi de l'air" ("The King of the Air").

Cei died on March 28 of that year when his plane crashed on the Rotschild island near Puteaux. His funeral was celebrated by a large crowd in Paris. Later hib body was buried in his native city.

External links

* [http://www.earlyaviators.com/ecei1.htm Page at EarlyAviatiors.com]