Jorge Chávez

: "For the jockey, see: " Jorge F. Chavez: For other possible meanings see Chávez (disambiguation)Infobox Person
name = Jorge Chávez

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image_size = 250px
caption =
birth_date = January 13, 1887
birth_place = Paris, France
death_date = September 27, 1910
death_place = Domodossola, Italy
education =
occupation = Aviator
spouse =
parents = Manuel Chávez Moreyra
María Rosa Dartnell y Guisse
children =

Jorge Chávez Dartnell (January 13, 1887 – September 27, 1910), also known as Géo Chávez, was a Franco – Peruvian aviator. At a young age, he achieved fame for his aeronautical feats. He died in 1910 while attempting the first air crossing of the Alps.

Early life

Jorge Chávez Dartnell was born in Paris, France to Peruvian parents Manuel Chávez Moreyra and María Rosa Dartnell y Guisse. He studied at the Violet School from where he graduated with an engineer's degree in 1908. [Museo Aeronáutico del Perú, [http://incaland.com/museofap/JORGE.htm "Jorge Chávez"] . Retrieved on May 30, 2007.]

Career

Chávez attended the school of aviation established by Henry and Maurice Farman where he got his pilot license and undertook his first flight in Reims on February 28, 1910. [Alberto Tauro del Pino, "Enciclopedia Ilustrada del Perú", vol. IV, p. 607.] Afterwards he participated in several aviation competitions throughout France and other European countries. On August 8 of the same year he took a Blériot monoplane to Blackpool, England where he achieved fame after attaining an altitude of 1,647 meters (5,405 feet). [John Warth, [http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/scitech/impacto/graphic/aviation/jorge.html "Adventurers of the Air"] . Retrieved on May 30, 2007.] He improved his mark by flying at 2,652 m (8,700 f) over the city of Issy, France on September 6. [Jorge Basadre, "Historia de la República del Perú", vol. VIII, p. 383.]

Death

After this successful series, Chávez decided to undertake the first air crossing of the Alps. This attempt was made in response to a prize of $20,000 offered by the aero club of Italy for the first aviator to make the trip alive. [John Warth, [http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/scitech/impacto/graphic/aviation/jorge.html "Adventurers of the Air"] . Retrieved on May 30, 2007.] After several delays due to bad weather, he took off from Brigue, Switzerland on September 23, 1910, and made his way through the Simplon Pass. Before departing, he said "Whatever happens, I shall be found on the other side of the Alps". [John Warth, [http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/scitech/impacto/graphic/aviation/jorge.html "Adventurers of the Air"] . Retrieved on May 30, 2007.] Fifty-one minutes later he arrived to his destination, the city of Domodossola, Italy, but his plane crashed upon landing. It is believed that the airplane had been damaged previously and inadequately repaired, which caused the aircraft to break under the heavy winds of the mountains. [Jorge Basadre, "Historia de la República del Perú", vol. VIII, p. 384.] Heavily injured but conscious, Chávez agonized for four days before dying of massive blood loss. [Jorge Basadre, "Historia de la República del Perú", vol. VIII, pp. 384-385.] His last words were "Higher. Always higher" according to the testimony of his friend and fellow aviator Juan Bielovucic. [Jorge Basadre, "Historia de la República del Perú", vol. VIII, p. 384.]

Legacy

The death of Jorge Chávez caused great commotion in the aviation world. Domodossola and Brig, the start and end of his last flight, dedicated monuments to the lost aviator. In Peru, Chávez became an icon for aviation related institutions such as the Air Force. His remains were initially buried in France but repatriated to Peru in 1957, where they currently rest at the Officer's School of the Peruvian Air Force at "Las Palmas". [Jorge Basadre, "Historia de la República del Perú", vol. VIII, p. 385.] The International Airport of Lima, inaugurated in 1960, is named after him. For many years, a life-sized replica of Chávez famous Blériot XI monoplane was on display at the air terminal.

Gallery

ee also

*1910 in aviation
*Jorge Chávez International Airport
*List of aviators killed in aircraft crashes

Notes

Bibliography

*es icon Basadre, Jorge. "Historia de la República del Perú". Lima: Editorial Universitaria, 1983.
*es icon Museo Aeronáutico del Perú. [http://incaland.com/museofap/JORGE.htm "Jorge Chávez"] .
*es icon Tauro del Pino, Alberto. "Enciclopedia Ilustrada del Perú". Lima: Peisa, 2003.
*Warth, John. [http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/scitech/impacto/graphic/aviation/jorge.html "Adventurers of the Air"] . In Whitney, Caspar (Editor). "Collier’s Aviation Pioneers". 1911.

External links

*es icon [http://www.ArribaSiempreArriba.com/jch Biography]

Persondata
NAME=Chávez, Jorge
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Aviator
DATE OF BIRTH=January 13, 1887
PLACE OF BIRTH=Paris, France
DATE OF DEATH=September 27, 1910
PLACE OF DEATH=Domodossola, Italy