CONSTANTIN (Louis). 1877-1956. - Lot 29

CONSTANTIN (Louis). 1877-1956. Aeronautical engineer, pioneer of air safety studies and future promoter of modern wind turbines. L.A.S. "Constantin", Paris, January 19, 1929, to a journalist from Le Quotidien. 1 p. in-4 on blue paper, autograph address. Important autograph letter concerning the technical debates sparked by the Saint-Raphaël air disaster. A few days after providing the journalist with an initial analysis of the accident, Louis Constantin returns to the causes of the tragedy and claims that his theory has now been confirmed. He writes "Campardon and Fisbach were, like so many others, victims of "loss of speed". The engineer believes that the accident was "perfectly, and easily, avoidable", and blames the public authorities directly: "The public authorities were, and still are, guilty as charged". He strongly advocates the creation of a truly independent body dedicated to aviation safety: "The institution of the "Office d'étude de la Sécurité" is more necessary than ever, provided it is not conceived as a new manifestation of gerontocracy and egoism". A rare account of the technical and institutional reflections surrounding the beginnings of modern air safety in France, at a time when aviation disasters fueled intense scientific and political controversy. A fine piece of aviation history.