The Reims Military Aviation Competition (French: Concours militaire d'aviation) was a military aviation competition held in Reims in October 1911 that was organized by the French Army, with the purpose of trialling the performance of new aircraft for potential use by the French military. Although a number of aeronautical records were beaten during the competition, there were also a number of crashes and fatalities. It began on Friday October 6, 1911.

Background

Aircraft manufacturers that exhibited at Le Grand Concours d'Aviation Militaire at Reims in October 1911 hoped to attract orders from the French military. Organized by the French Army, this competition required that the aircraft and engines be fully built in France, and be able to fly without stop on a closed circuit of 300 km with a 300 kg load (not including oil, water and fuel) at a speed of more than 60 km/h. Additionally, they were to be 3-seaters, and be able to take-off and land from unprepared surfaces. The first prize was 700,000 francs plus additional sums for increases in speed over 60 km/h, as well as a commitment by the military to purchase 10 aircraft. The competition attracted the major French aircraft manufacturers of the time, including Blériot, Breguet, Deperdussin, Farman, Hanriot, R.E.P. and Nieuport.[1]

During the Reims military competition of November 1911, a Deperdussin Type B "Sport", piloted by Maurice Prévost, came 3rd. Powered by a 100 hp Gnome engine monoplane, it achieved a speed of 89 km/h.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Concours militaire d'aviation 1911.

Further reading

• Moulin, Jean (October 2004). "Reims 1911, le premier concours d'appareils militaires au monde!" [Reims 1911, the First Military Aircraft Concours in the World!]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (139): 51–58. ISSN 1243-8650.