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Albert Kimmerling, (22 June 1882 Saint-Rambert-l'Île-Barbe – 9 June 1912, Mourmelon, France) was a pioneer 
On 8 November 1910, Albert Kimmerling was awarded his Aviator's Certificate by the
Rue Kimmerling
aviator
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators because they a ...
who made the first airplane flight in Africa, taking off at the Nahoon Racetrack at East London, Eastern Cape
East London (; ) is a city on the southeastern coast of South Africa, in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, Province. The city lies on the Indian Ocean coast, largely between the Buffalo River ( ...
. on 28 December 1909 in a Voisin biplane. He was also involved in the first airplane crash in South Africa on 1 January 1910 when the flight was repeated. The incident was fairly minor.
Albert Kimmerling studied at Collège-lycée Ampère
The Collège-lycée Ampère () is a school located in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon.
History
The school was founded in 1519 by members of the Brotherhood of the Trinity. It was then known as Collège de la Trinité. Under this name it was directe ...
, Lyon
Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...
and had a special interest in mechanics. In October 1909 he was employed by Voisin Freres, the a French aircraft manufacturing company, and was sent to promote the company in South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. He arrived at East London along with Voisin mechanic J. Moller and an aircraft
An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...
on 18 December 1909 on board the RMS Kenilworth Castle. 1910 to 1920 – Early Flying in South Africa
The first manned, heavier-than-air powered flight in South Africa (some reports state in Africa itself) was made by Albert Kimmerling by taking off from the Nahoon Racecourse in East London on 28 December 1909. He then moved the plane up to the Transvaal where he made three more flights at Sydenham Hill near Orange Grove. On 19 March 1910 he flew the first fare paying passenger in South Africa, when Thomas Thornton of the South African Aero Club paid ÂŁ100 for a flight.
Albert Kimmerling returned to France and settled in Miramas
Miramas (; ) is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, southern France. It is the second-largest commune in metropolitan Ouest-Provence and is located at the north end of the Étang de Berre ...
, Southern France. During an aviation festival on 16 June 1910, Albert was injured when he crashed his Voisin from a height of 20 metres.
On 8 November 1910, Albert Kimmerling was awarded his Aviator's Certificate by the AĂ©ro-Club de France
The AĂ©ro-Club de France () is one of the oldest French aviators' associations still active. It was founded as the AĂ©ro-Club on 20 October 1898 as a society 'to encourage aerial locomotion' by Ernest Archdeacon, LĂ©on Serpollet, Henri de la ...
. On the same day Roger Sommer asked Albert to create an aviation school in Lyon. He flew at many circuits for the aviation school throughout France and Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
until 1912, when he left to head up the Steering School Sommer in Bouzy in the Marne.
On 9 June 1912, while test flying a new 2 seat Sommer monoplane, he crashed and both himself and engineer Tonnet were killed.
On 5 August 1912, in honour of Albert Kimmerling, Lyon named a street after himRue Kimmerling
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kimmerling, Albert 1882 births 1912 deaths Aviators from Lyon French people of Swiss descent Aviation history of France French aviation pioneers Members of the Early Birds of Aviation Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in France Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1912