On 11th July 1891, the French aviation pioneer and test pilot Joseph Sadi-Lecointe, was born in Saint-Germain-sur-Bresle, Somme department in France.
In his early years, Sadi-Lecointe worked as mechanic in one of aviation factories near Paris. There, he developed his first aircraft, a light aeroplane that successfully flew at the beginning of 1910. Next year, Sadi-Lecointe received the French pilot´s certificate no. 431 and began to work for Anzani, the aviation engine manufacturing company.
In 1912, Sadi-Lecointe was drafted into the army. Initially, he was assigned to an engineer unit but within a year managed to change his appointment for a flying squadron. On 20th September 1913, the young French officially became a military pilot.
With the outbreak of the Great War, Sadi-Lecointe was assigned to Escadrille BL.10, operating the Blériot aircraft. In 1915, he was transferred to MS.48, then became a flying instructor and, at the end of 1917, appointed a test pilot at SPAD factory.
In 1919, Sadi-Lecointe became a test pilot at Nieuport. He remained at this position until 1924, evaluating several aircraft and breaking numerous aviation world records.
In 1925, the French pilot returned to active military service. For the next two years, Sadi-Lecointe participated in the Rif War in Morocco, flying with 37e Régiment aérien (the 37th Air Regiment).
After being released from active service, Sadi-Lecointe founded Association des professionnels navigants de l’aviation (Association of Aviation Professionals) and became its president. In addition, he was involved in popularisation of civil aviation, finally being appointed inspecteur général de l’aéronautique civile (General Inspector of Civil Aviation) in 1936.
Apart from aviation, Sadi-Lecointe was interested in motorsport and successfully took part in several races and speed events. In 1920, he won Journées Léon Bollée race, then Prix des Touristes (Tourist Prize) at Grand Prix automobile de la Corse.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Sadi-Lecointe was mobilised and appointed the Inspector of Flying Schools. After the fall of France, he joined the Resistance.
In March of 1944, Sadi-Lecointe was arrested by Gestapo and was subjected to torture and beating. Although he was released after two months, the French aviator died on 15th July 1944, due to his injuries sustained in the German prison.
The list of Sadi-Lecointe´s aviation records achieved between 1920 and 1924 include seven speed records set with Nieuport-Delage 29 and 42 aircraft, as well as three more altitude records set with Nieuport-Delage 40R.
Sadi-Lecointe´s legacy survived until today. A few streets in France were named after the aviation pioneer, as well as a nursery school in Paris. In addition, a small museum dedicated to Joseph Sadi-Lecointe was founded by one of his relatives in Beaucamps-le-Jeune, near the place he was born.
Cover photo: Joseph Sadi-Lecointe in Nieuport biplane, 1920 (source: gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France, ark:/12148/btv1b53242776x)
