Henri Dufaux

Henri Dufaux (September 18th 1879 with Chens-on-Léman in France - December 25th 1980 with Swiss Geneva in ) pioneer of aviation, inventive painter and politician of nationalities French E and Swiss

Biography

Henri is the son of a French baroness born from Rochefort Luçay and of a painter, sculptor and portraitist locally celebrates, Frederic. He is the elder one of a family of three children, his junior Armand, him also pioneer of aviation and a sister.

He makes studies in the Art schools in Geneva, Florence and Paris, like Ferdinand Hodler, he is the pupil of Barthelemy Menn in Geneva.

In 1898, he invents and creates an engine which can be gone up on a bicycle which will lead it to create the company H. & A. Dufaux Fils (HADF) with François Cuillery and Edouard Demole, whose seat is with Carouge in the canton of Geneva. The two brothers study in 1898 a new light engine for bicycle of 0,25cv, 4 times, turning with 1 200 turns per minute for a weight of 18 kg which can reach the 21 km/h of which they deposit the patent no.21167 in 1901.

In 1902, they launch the first studies for an apparatus on vertical takeoff or short takeoff of which they invent the concept as well as the process of braking per propeller. It test this process with kites, propellers, models.

They market their engines of bicycle under the denomination of Motosacoche. In 1903 they create a second workshop to the 22 of the street of the Large-Office. This same year, on June 25th, they climb the slopes of the Salève with 2 bicycles equipped with Motosacoche the slope goes from 12 to 20 % on a not asphalted road. Success which leads them to increase the factory and to also produce engines of motor cycles. Company name becomes H & has Dufaux & Co (HADCo).

February 24th, 1904, they deposit the patent of a Hélicoptère. This same year, they open a third workshop, street of Caroubiers. In 1905, it is the factory " Motosacoche" with the 56 rue des Acacias which is created. It produces from 30 to 35 machines per day. The public limit company Motosacoche S.A. Dufaux & Co (MSADC) are created. In 1905, they build and present to the Genevese public the small-scale model of their helicopter provided with one of their engine developing 3,1 cv for only 4,5 kg, which is a record in 1905. The model of the helicopter is exposed on the Motosacoche stand with the International fair of the car of Geneva from April 29th to May 7th, 1905. They make from May 12th to 14th of the demonstrations of their helicopter to the Aéro-Club of France.

In 1906, they draw the plans of an engine 120 cv for a helicopter in real size. It is built and tested with its propellers in 1907. In 1908, a large Motosacoche factory is built in Turin (Societa Meccanica Italio-Ginevrina) which will make it possible to produce 50 machines per day. It counts 300 employees.

They begin construction into 1908 of their helicopter, the " Tiltrotor" with Corsier. In June 1909, HADCo is liquidated, Dufaux do not have more anything to see with Motosacoche. From July to October of this same year the tests of Tiltrotor take place which are a failure. The two brothers give up the idea of the vertical propulsion then and launch out in the construction of a biplane the Dufaux-4 . They open the factory of construction of planes and propellers in Geneva. In December, they carry out the first tests of takeoff with their Biplan been driven by an engine Anzani with Viry (Haute-Savoie). It results from it the destruction partial then the immediate rebuilding of the apparatus.

They found the company of the aerodrome of Viry on January 29th 1910. Throughout this year, they improve their plane, changing engine, accumulating the experiments and the hours of vol. They sell their first apparatuses to Paul Tournier Mr. Beamish.

August 28th, 1910, Armand makes a success of the crossing of the Lac Léman in his length of Noville to Geneva. He gains a price of five thousand francs offered by the Perrot-Duval Company & Co. It is about the new world records, the distance is the double of that traversed by Blériot on the English Channel (25.07.1909). The Federal council decrees a gold stop watch to them carrying the inscription : " On behalf of the Federal council to the first Suisses" aviators;.

In November 1910, Ernest Failloubaz order a two-seater Dufaux-5 which it will test on January 12th, 1911. It makes of it a demonstration with Armand in May 1911 with Iso-the-Moulineaux. Dufaux then yield the license aviation, all the activities, the apparatus in construction, the tools and the parts to him. They give up aeronautics.

In August 1912, the two brothers embark for the the United States, they visit New York, the Lake Michigan, Chicago, the Chutes of the Niagara, etc

In 1913, Henri Dufaux returns to painting. He takes as a starting point his many voyages in Africa and Oceania, undertaken during the inter-war period. He will paint until his last day.

In 1920, he is elected Conseiller administrative of Geneva. From 1922 to 1939 he undertakes voyages around the world, in the hot countries, except for Asia, he becomes " painter colonial". He transforms a car supplied with the gasoline into gas generator to go to make a film the life of the termites , to Africa.

In 1935 it is in Tahiti with the explorer-writer Rene Gouzy. It passes the Second world war to Geneva.

Between 1963 and 1970 it creates an apparatus for the flight with muscular propulsion with beating wings, " Alouette" , which is preserved at the Musée of transport of Lucerne. It does not arrive however at its goal, it should be noticed that it is then 90 years old.

In 1976, he marries Maria Emélie Rocher, his controlling West-Indian since close 50 years, he has 97 years then. He dies on December 25th, 1980 at 11 p.m., he is 102 years old. He rests with the cemetery of the Petit-Saconnex, close to his brother,

Rewards

March 13rd, 1931: it receives the Légion of honor, like his Armand brother.
1972: Guest with the inauguration of the house of aviation to the Museum of transport of Lucerne, the side of Neil Armstrong.
June 1976: celebrated with the air meeting of Emmen, in front of 120.000 spectators, for the 75 years of the Flying-club of Switzerland (AéCS).
1979: it receives the medal of honor of the veterans of aviation.
1979: the Funds of decoration of the town of Geneva buys paintings for the to him Musée of Arts and History of Geneva.

Sources

the Review no.35, Conservatory National of Arts & Trades, Paris, 06.2002.

External bonds

the brothers Dufaux Memo.fr
Museum of transport Lucerne
Henri Dufaux DHS
Project hepta " The DufauX" forgery;

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