Elise Raymonde Deroche, First Ever Woman Pilot
Also Known as Baroness Raymonde de Laroche
Aug 23, 2009
A few short years after the Wright Brothers historic first flight, women began trying to take to the air. Elise Raymonde De Roche of France was the first to gain her pilot’s licence in 1910. She was quickly followed by Lydia Zvereva in Russia, Melli Beese in Germany, Hilda Hewlitt in the UK, and Harriet Quimby in the USA
The Early Life of Elise Raymonde Deroche
Elise was born on August 22nd 1886. Her father was a plumber. As a young woman she became a stage performer, using the name Raymonde de Laroche, although exact details of her early career are hazy.
First Flights
In 1908 the Wright Brothers were offering demonstration flights near Le Mans, and the 22 year old Elise was keen to have a go. Soon she visited aircraft manufacturer Charles Voisin and asked him to teach her to fly.. On October 22nd 1909 she took the controls, and may have been the first woman to pilot a heavier-than-air Aircraft, although this is not certain. Two weeks later she hit a tree and crash-landed, suffering concussion and a broken collarbone. Nevertheless, as soon as she had recovered she went to an Air Show in Egypt. On her return she was awarded her pilot’s licence, on 8th March 1910.
Further Flying and Accidents
Elise went on to take part in air meetings in Heliopolis, Budapest, Rouen, and St Petersburg. The on July 3rd 1910 at the Rheims Air Meet she suffered wake turbulence and crashed her aircraft, fracturing her arms and legs. However, again she made a full recovery and returned to flying, despite the fact it had nearly killed her. Soon afterwards she set women’s records for distance and altitude. She then suffered a third near-fatal accident a year later, though this time she was in a car. Seriously injured yet again, she recovered and kept on flying until the start of World War I, when she was grounded along with all other female pilots of that time.
Final Flights
In 1919 Elise began flying again, setting further women’s records. That same year she co-piloted a new aircraft, with dreams of becoming the first woman test pilot. However, her aircraft crashed…and this time it was fatal.
Although she died at the young age of 32, “The Baroness” was doing what she loved and earned her place in history. Passionate about flying, she once said: “Flying is the Best Thing Possible for Women” – and she lived that dream.
Source
The 100 Greatest Women in Aviation, by Liz Moscrop & Sanjay Rampal, Aerocomm Ltd 2008
Other Articles About Famous Early Women Pilots
Amelia Earhart, Famous Pilot Who Disappeared
Amy Johnson, Pioneer UK Aviatrix
Nancy-Bird Walton, Famous Australian Aviatrix
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