Origins & Early Life

Adolphe Célestin Pégoud (French pronunciation: [adɔlf peɡu]; 13 June 1889 – 31 August 1915) was a French aviator and flight instructor who became the first fighter ace in history during World War I. Adolphe Célestin Pégoud was born 13 June 1889 in Montferrat, France. Pégoud served in the French Army from 1907 to 1913. Discharged on 13 February 1913, he immediately began flying, and earned his pilot's certificate 1 March 1913.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Using a sacrifice aircraft, Pégoud was the first pilot to make a parachute jump from an airplane. During the first jump, observing the unexpected path of the plane and particularly a loop-like trajectory, he was convinced he could reproduce and control the same in flight. After landing, Pégoud addressed reporters: "I've seen him, alone, looping the loop. So you see that this is possible. Also, I will try!" As a test pilot for Louis Blériot, he devoted himself to this goal with a Blériot model XI monoplane in a series of test flights exploring the limits of airplane maneuvers.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Having modified his airplane, and after realistic "head down" ground training, he then flew the first inverted flight on 1 September 1913. Then, on 21 September he flew a loop...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexandre Cabanel — Contemporary (Died in 1889) (1889): Prominent French Academic painter, celebrated for historical and mythological subjects.
• Anna Akhmatova — Contemporary (Born in 1889) (1889): A seminal Russian poet whose work chronicled the trauma of the Soviet era.
• Anne Lee Guinness — Contemporary (Died in 1889) (1889): Irish philanthropist known for establishing nursing homes and supporting the poor in Dublin.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Contemporary (Born in 1915) (1915): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Abba Eban — Contemporary (Born in 1915) (1915): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• Alan Watts — Contemporary (Born in 1915) (1915): Philosopher and lecturer popularizing Eastern thought for the West.
• Ali Sayad Shirazi — Shared historical date (06-13 · Born) (1944): Key Iranian military commander during the Iran-Iraq War, assassinated in 1999.
• Ann Druyan — Shared historical date (06-13 · Born) (1949): Pioneering producer communicating science through documentary film and literature.
• Caligula — Shared historical date (08-31 · Born) (12): Third Roman Emperor, known for his tumultuous and short reign (AD 37-41).
• Charles Baudelaire — Shared historical date (08-31 · Died) (1867): Master of modern poetry, Baudelaire captured the ephemeral beauty of industrial Paris.
• 1889 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1889
• June 13 (06-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 13
• 1915 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1915
• August 31 (08-31) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 31