Raymonde de Laroche, born Élisa Léontine Deroche, was the French aviation pioneer and 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.
Élisa Léontine Deroche was born on 22nd August 1882 in Paris, France. Initially, her professional career was linked with theatre. Widely known by her stage name ´baroness Raymonde de Laroche´, she acted on stages of Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, des Mathurins and Théâtre de Paris – Salle Réjane.
On 13th September 1906, Deroche witnessed the first successful flight made by Santos-Dumont. Shortly after, she decided not to remain just a mere spectator anymore.
On 22nd October 1909, at Chalons, she was personally instructed by Charles Voisin in how to fly an aircraft. Later that day, Élisa Deroche performed her first solo flight and flew over a distance of 300 metres.
Ten years later, on 7th June 1919, Élisa Deroche set a woman´s world altitude record, climbing in her Caudron G.3 to altitude of nearly 13,000 feet (3,962 m) but her 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, Deroche achieved 15,748 feet (4,800 m).
Raymonde de Laroche died on 18th July 1919, while testing one of the new French aircraft.
Full story here.
Cover photo: Voisin biplane in flight, 1910 – used for illustrative purpose only (by Holger Damgaard, Nationalmuseet København collection, DNT-71284, Public domain)
