Jan Kašpar
Encyclopedia
Jan Kašpar was a Czech aviator
, aircraft
constructor, designer and engineer. He is considered as a pioneer of aviation
in the Czech lands
.
. From his early years, he was an enthusiastic fan of cycling
and automobilism. After finishing his studies at secondary school in Pardubice, he moved to Prague
. In 1907, Kašpar graduated at the Czech Technical University in Prague
. Later, he continued his studies in Germany, and has concentrated on aircraft engine construction. Following that, he has worked as a constructor in the factory Laurin & Klement
. Together with his colleague, engineer Hieronymus, Kašpar participated on construction of the first aircraft engine
in the Czech lands. His passion for aviation forced him to leave the company and devote solely to aircraft construction, together with his cousin Evžen Čihák.
His first attempts to construct a monoplane
were inspired by the model Antoinette by the French designer Hubert Latham
. In 1909, during the construction of own monoplane, Kašpar heard about Blériot
's successful flight from Calais
to Dover
. Kašpar has finished his own aircraft, however, he was unable to take off. Some of his first attempts nearly cost him his life. Therefore, he decided to buy the model Blériot XI
(No. 76) by the French manufacturer. At first, he equipped the Blériot's aircraft with his own engine and later he switched to engine made by Anzani
.
On 16 April 1910, Kašpar made his first successful flight with Blériot XI. The flight covered two kilometres at a height 20–25 metres. This day is considered as the fundamental milestone of the Czech aviation, as Kašpar was the first pilot of Czech nationality. Kašpar was not the first person, who presented the new invention in the Czech lands. In January 1910, French pilot Gaubert flew over the aerodrome in the Prague's district Velká Chuchle
. German aviator Otto Hieronimus, the main engineer of the company Laurin & Klement, undertook his flight two weeks before Kašpar.
A year later, in 1911, Kašpar managed to construct his own functional aircraft called JK. With this aircraft, he has planned the realisation of the first long-haul flight in the Czech lands. The first test flight took place on 30 April 1911, from Pardubice
to Chrudim
and back. The same day, Kašpar made also the first flight with a co-passenger, his cousin Čihák. However, the most famous Kašpar's flight took place on 13 May 1911. The flight from Pardubice to Velká Chuchle
(121 km) lasted 92 minutes. At the time, it was the longest flight in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The pilot donated the aircraft, with which he had flown his historical flight, to the National Technical Museum
in Prague. The aeroplane is still on display at the National Technical Museum.
Kašpar's later years were marked by personal tragedy and financial hardship. Following the World War I
he lost his financial resources and fell into poverty. In 1927, impoverished and suffering from mental illness, Jan Kašpar committed suicide at Pardubice.
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
constructor, designer and engineer. He is considered as a pioneer of aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
in the Czech lands
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
.
Biography
Kašpar was born at PardubicePardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
. From his early years, he was an enthusiastic fan of cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
and automobilism. After finishing his studies at secondary school in Pardubice, he moved to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. In 1907, Kašpar graduated at the Czech Technical University in Prague
Czech Technical University in Prague
Czech Technical University in Prague is one of the largest universities in the Czech Republic, and the oldest institute of technology in Central Europe....
. Later, he continued his studies in Germany, and has concentrated on aircraft engine construction. Following that, he has worked as a constructor in the factory Laurin & Klement
Laurin & Klement
Laurin & Klement was a bicycle, motorcycle and automobile manufacturer in Mladá Boleslav, Bohemia, at the time also known in German as Jungbunzlau, and a part of Austria-Hungary ....
. Together with his colleague, engineer Hieronymus, Kašpar participated on construction of the first aircraft engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
in the Czech lands. His passion for aviation forced him to leave the company and devote solely to aircraft construction, together with his cousin Evžen Čihák.
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
were inspired by the model Antoinette by the French designer Hubert Latham
Hubert Latham
Arthur Charles Hubert Latham was a French aviation pioneer. He was the first person to attempt to cross the English Channel in an aeroplane...
. In 1909, during the construction of own monoplane, Kašpar heard about Blériot
Louis Blériot
Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was a French aviator, inventor and engineer. In 1909 he completed the first flight across a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft, when he crossed the English Channel. For this achievement, he received a prize of £1,000...
's successful flight from Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
to Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
. Kašpar has finished his own aircraft, however, he was unable to take off. Some of his first attempts nearly cost him his life. Therefore, he decided to buy the model Blériot XI
Blériot XI
The Blériot XI is the aircraft in which, on 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel made in a heavier-than-air aircraft . This achievement is one of the most famous accomplishments of the early years of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in...
(No. 76) by the French manufacturer. At first, he equipped the Blériot's aircraft with his own engine and later he switched to engine made by Anzani
Anzani
Anzani was an engine manufacturer founded by the Italian Alessandro Anzani , which produced proprietary engines for aircraft, cars, boats, and motorcycles in factories in Britain, France and Italy.-Overview:...
.
On 16 April 1910, Kašpar made his first successful flight with Blériot XI. The flight covered two kilometres at a height 20–25 metres. This day is considered as the fundamental milestone of the Czech aviation, as Kašpar was the first pilot of Czech nationality. Kašpar was not the first person, who presented the new invention in the Czech lands. In January 1910, French pilot Gaubert flew over the aerodrome in the Prague's district Velká Chuchle
Velká Chuchle
Velká Chuchle is part of Prague situated in the southwest of the city. It is part of Praha 5 administrative district.In Velká Chuchle there is the only Prague's horse-racing track that offers flat racing on most Sundays from April to October. The track was founded in 1906.Velká Chuchle is the site...
. German aviator Otto Hieronimus, the main engineer of the company Laurin & Klement, undertook his flight two weeks before Kašpar.
A year later, in 1911, Kašpar managed to construct his own functional aircraft called JK. With this aircraft, he has planned the realisation of the first long-haul flight in the Czech lands. The first test flight took place on 30 April 1911, from Pardubice
Pardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
to Chrudim
Chrudim
Chrudim is a city in eastern Bohemia, in the Pardubice region of the Czech Republic.The oldest archaeological findings which provide first signs of the settlement in this area date back to the 5th millennium BC. Various cultures succeeded one on another in the territory of today’s town of Chrudim...
and back. The same day, Kašpar made also the first flight with a co-passenger, his cousin Čihák. However, the most famous Kašpar's flight took place on 13 May 1911. The flight from Pardubice to Velká Chuchle
Velká Chuchle
Velká Chuchle is part of Prague situated in the southwest of the city. It is part of Praha 5 administrative district.In Velká Chuchle there is the only Prague's horse-racing track that offers flat racing on most Sundays from April to October. The track was founded in 1906.Velká Chuchle is the site...
(121 km) lasted 92 minutes. At the time, it was the longest flight in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The pilot donated the aircraft, with which he had flown his historical flight, to the National Technical Museum
National Technical Museum (Prague)
The National Technical Museum in Prague is the largest institution dedicated to preserving information and artifacts related to the history of technology in the Czech Republic. The museum was founded in 1908 and has been in its current location since 1941. The museum has large exhibits...
in Prague. The aeroplane is still on display at the National Technical Museum.
Kašpar's later years were marked by personal tragedy and financial hardship. Following the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he lost his financial resources and fell into poverty. In 1927, impoverished and suffering from mental illness, Jan Kašpar committed suicide at Pardubice.