L%C3%A9on Letort

Lon Letort, was a pioneer French aviator. He gained his pilots license onAugust 1910, flew his Blriot in exhibitions across France, and flew on military service in the Balkan Wars. In 1913 he set the world record for the greatest distance travelled nonstop, flying 950 kilometres inhours. He died during an attempt to win a prize for longdistance flight when he crash landed at BarbezieuxSaintHilaire outside Bordeaux.

Letort was born onSeptember 1889 in PiresurSeiche, Brittany, the youngest of four brothers and four sisters from a wealthy family in the textile business. He was educated in Rennes at the School of Brothers of Christian Instruction at Parc du Thabor and the College of St. Martin. His main interest was in mechanical things, so on leaving school agedhe started in the automotive and aviation industry.

Source: Wikipedia