Victor Mahl
Victor Mahl (born October 28, 1889 in Twickenham , Middlesex , † April 2, 1915 in Southampton ) was one of the first English pilots and chief engineer at Sopwith Aviation Company .
Life
After studying mechanical engineering , Thomas Sopwith employed him as an engineer at the newly founded Sopwith Aviation Company in 1912 . On May 14, 1914, he received his pilot's license and became a test pilot at Sopwith. On April 20, 1914, a machine designed by Victor Mahl took off at the Schneider Trophy in Monaco ; it was a seaplane variant of the Sopwith Tabloid . Mahl had installed a 100 hp Gnôme monosoupape radial engine and pilot Howard Pixton won the trophy with a new record for seaplanes. The machine reached a speed of 139.74 km / h.
During the test flight on November 1, 1914 with a Sopwith seaplane, there was an accident during a water landing, the designer of the aircraft R. Austen was killed, Victor Mahl was able to free himself from the aircraft floating overhead in the water and step onto the float of the seaplane . He was rescued by a boat crew.
On April 2, 1915, while testing a new seaplane in Southampton , Victor Mahl died of appendicitis at the age of 25.
Individual evidence
- ^ Wreck of Seaplane - Designer Killed in Trial (News). In: The Times (London). November 3, 1914
- ^ Death of Mr. Victor Mahl , Report in Flight, April 9, 1915 issue
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Meal, Victor |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British aviation pioneer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 28, 1889 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Twickenham , Middlesex |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 2, 1915 |
| Place of death | Southampton |