Grande semaine d'aviation de la Champagne 3-10 July 1910

Official Programme

The Grande Semaine d'aviation de la Champagne was an international air show held for the first time in August 1909 in the commune of Bétheny, north of Reims, which later became the B.A. 112.

The Marquis Melchior de Polignac organised the event in 1909 and 1910. A branch of the Comité d'Aviation de la Champagne was set up in Place Royale and a mast gave the race conditions.

Delatouche, the architect, and Monier, the contractor, were responsible for the construction. The Union photographique rémoise installed darkrooms for developing the images, and the Bétheny post, telegraph and telephone office installed telephone booths, several of which were reserved for reporters, and a special edition of a stamp was printed. Signalling pylons using marine symbolism were used both to mark out the terrain and to measure records and give flight conditions. There were grandstands for VIPs, a pergola for meals, 168 boxes rented at between 250 and 1,000 francs per week, a car park and hangars to protect the aircraft. A palisade surrounded the entire circuit and, in addition to the gendarmes, the 16th and 22nd dragoons under the command of General Gallet and the 132nd of the line, all under the command of General Valabrègue, head of the Reims square, provided security. There were also two medical centres, one run by the Union des femmes de France.

To transport the visitors, 186 additional trains between Reims and Le Fresnay were chartered by the Compagnie de l'Est for the last day.

On the very first day, there was an in-flight accident that ended in the death of pilot Charles Wachter, and the following day seven aeroplanes were damaged beyond repair. On 8 July, Baroness Raymonde de Laroche was also involved in an accident that left her with several fractures of her left arm and leg. Police investigations have been launched to determine the causes of these accidents.

Had been created:

Distance price on a non-stop flight :

Height award :

Total distance travelled price :

a distance prize on one flight ;

a Champagne Grand Prix of 50,000 f :

a builders' prize ;

Ladies' prize of 5,000 f won by Baroness de Laroche

an airship prize; a passenger prize; a kite prize; a total height prize; a speed prize; an officers' prize; an airship prize; a Michel Ephrusis prize; a mechanics' prize and an eliminatory for the Gordon Bennett Cup.

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