Henri Villard

[jempie]

hello!
Henri Villard ° Torteron 14 August 1867
KIA,Cahors 29th September 1916 as Artillery officer.
(That's what I found in a book!)

In fact no WWI Aviator Ace!

But from about 1898 started with construction & developing helicopters!

1902 he must have been coming over to Belgium
( 1st Car Exhibition Salon /Brussels-Januari 1902!)
where his first real size helicopter was into exhibition! (Already in Paris constructed!)
Is by pure coincidence someone who has a photo from his +/- 1902 helicopter! Had a 350 kg weighting motor, must have been real size one!
As result of his presence there he was offered by our late King Albert I to do further research at Brussels and realised after years of studying models, here his Ornis I, Ornis II and Ornis III helicopters during the years 1913-1914.
His Ornis III (July-August 1914!) was in fact a real helicopter as we know today...with one lift rotor and a tail rotor to prevent it from spinning!
But WWI broke out and he went to France again.
All info on him welcome!
Found one Henri Villard mentioned at OPTEMOZ WWI memorial, but killed 1917, might be another Henri Villard! (Maréchal du Logis)
No idea where he was buried!
Added picture of 28 June 1914-ORNIS II.

VBR

Jempie

[Billy9]

Hi Jempie;

I checked teh French Military Pilot Brevets and there were three VILLARDS mentioned:

VILLARD, Adrien #6619 26 May 1917 Sergent
VILLARD, Emile #12775 17 Apr 1918 Aspirant
VILLARD, François #4526 17 Sep 1916 Soldat

No mention of a Henri VILLARD.

Bill