# Pierre de Caters

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pierre_de_Caters
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pierre_de_Caters.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Caters
> Source revision: 1340313102
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Belgian racing driver and aviator (1875–1944)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
thumb
'''Baron Pierre de Caters''' (25 December 1875, in [Berchem](/source/Berchem) – 21 March 1944, in [Paris](/source/Paris)) was a [Belgian](/source/Belgium) [adventurer](/source/adventurer), [aviator](/source/aviator) and [car](/source/auto_racing) and [motorboat racer](/source/motorboat_racing). In 1908, he was the [first Belgian to fly an aircraft](/source/Aviation_history).<!-- Jeez, learn to write. As written, it meant he was the first in 1908 to do it...-->

thumb|De Caters' Voisin at Antwerp Aviation Week 1909.

He was also the first Belgian to receive a pilot's license from the Belgian air club on 2 December 1909 and received a gold medal for the first kilometer in the same year. He was the first aircraft manufacturer in Belgium and the first instructor of military aviation. He also took part in car and motorboat races in Belgium and France.

In 1904, he briefly held the [land speed record](/source/land_speed_record), driving a [DMG Mercedes Simplex](/source/Mercedes_Simplex) at {{convert|97.25|mph|abbr=on}} on a {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}} beach course in [Ostend](/source/Ostend), Belgium.

In [World War I](/source/World_War_I) he joined Belgian military aviation, commanding the flying school of [Étampes](/source/%C3%89tampes).<ref>[http://www.stelling.nl/followup/blikscaters.htm FollowUp – Kleintje Actueel<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923075503/http://www.stelling.nl/followup/blikscaters.htm |date=23 September 2006 }}</ref>

==Journey to India==
On 16 November 1910, de Caters embarked to India with two Aviator airplanes. He was accompanied by [Jules Tyck](/source/%3Anl%3AJules_Tyck), another Belgian pilot.
thumb|right|250px|Replica in the Royal Military Museum (Brussels) of the Voisin de Caters IV

The city of [Bombay](/source/Bombay) refused the organization of an aviation meeting. Then the two airmen traveled to [Calcutta](/source/Calcutta) with their aircraft crated. In Calcutta, de Caters flew several times from the Club of [Tollygunge](/source/Tollygunge). On 21 December, he flew for 27 minutes with Mrs. Mrinalini Sen, sister-in-law of the [Maharaja](/source/Maharaja) of [Cooch Behar](/source/Cooch_Behar) as passenger. One of the Aviators was damaged by fire. On 2 February 1911, de Caters and Tyck flew in [Bangalore](/source/Bangalore). They were received by the Maharaja of [Mysore](/source/Mysore). From 16 to 18 February, Pierre flew from [Secunderabad](/source/Secunderabad) in the [Hyderabad state](/source/Hyderabad_state). The Indian tour was completed and Pierre de Caters returned to Europe. A little later Aviator was dissolved and de Caters did not take part in any further competitions.

==See also==
*[1906 Targa Florio](/source/1906_Targa_Florio)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://users.skynet.be/BAMRS/BARMS.htm Brussels Air Museum Restoration Society (BAMRS)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910033717/http://users.skynet.be/BAMRS/BARMS.htm |date=10 September 2018 }}
*[http://www.bamf.be/bamfwebsite.htm Brussels Air Museum Foundation]
*[http://www.benevoles-aviation-bruxelles.be/index.php?lang=en Brussels Air Museum Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051225051901/http://www.benevoles-aviation-bruxelles.be/index.php?lang=en |date=25 December 2005 }}
*[https://www.amazon.fr/dp/8461386043/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me= Biography on Amazon]
*[http://earlyaviators.com/ecaters.htm EarlyAviators ; Baron de Caters]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:de Caters, Pierre}}
Category:1875 births
Category:1944 deaths
Category:History of aviation
Category:Belgian motorboat racers
Category:Land speed record people
Category:People from Berchem

{{Belgium-sport-bio-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pierre de Caters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Caters) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Caters?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.