LE BALLON DIRIGEABLE " REPUBLIQUE " ( * ) - Very rare bromid - Lot 757

LE BALLON DIRIGEABLE " REPUBLIQUE " ( * ) - Very rare bromide postcard, unique photo - Close-up of the gondola before departure showing its 4-man crew: Captain Marchal, Lieutenant Chauré, Adjudant Réaux, Adjudant Vincenot - In 1909, the card's owner annotated the card with a pen: souvenir de la catastrophe de la République le 25 septembre à 120 mètres de hauteur. All killed, the state funeral took place in Versailles on Tuesday, September 28, 1909. ( * ) REPUBLIQUE - military airship manufactured in Moisson by Lebaudy frères. On September 5, 1908, won the title for the longest flight, 180 km in 6 hours and 30 minutes from Paris to Compiègne. Participates with the "ville de Nancy" in the July 14 1909 parade, the 1st air parade. On September 25, 1909, it took off from Lapalisse and crashed just outside Moulins, a blade of the propeller having broken and torn the envelope, resulting in the death of the crew. Panhard Levassor 70 hp engine - 61 meters - 3700 m3 - 50 Km/h.