On 7th June 1919, the French aviation pioneer Raymonde de Laroche set a women´s world altitude record, flying in her Caudron G.3 to altitude of nearly 13,000 feet (3,962 m).
Élisa Léontine Deroche, as that was her real name, was born on 22nd August 1882, in Paris, France.
On 22nd October 1909, Raymonde de Laroche became the first woman ever to pilot a heavier-than-air, powered aircraft, the first female pilot to perform a solo flight, as well as the first aviatrix in the world to receive an official pilot licence.
An interesting fact is that De Laroche´s record did not last long. Already three days later, it was beaten by Ruth Bancroft Oliver (née Law) who flew to altitude of 14,700 feet (4,500 m).
Nevertheless, the answer of the French aviatrix was not long in coming. On 12th June, Raymonde de Laroche achieved 15,748 feet (4,800 m).
More information about the life and aviation career of the first female pilot in the world can be found in 22 October 1909 – Raymonde de Laroche, the first female pilot, our article issued in October of 2021, on the anniversary of her first solo flight.
Cover photo: Raymonde de Laroche and her Voisin aircraft, postcard (source: Bibliothèques spécialisées de la Ville de Paris, CP 931 a, Public Domain, cropped)
