How the most beautiful US pilot died (7 photos)

Harriet Quimby was indeed ahead of her time. She should have been born at least 50 years later ...





In 1875, a girl was born in an ordinary farming family, named Harriet. Unfortunately, the farm went bankrupt, and the family moved to San Francisco. Like many at that time, the girl wanted to play on stage, but her talent was completely different.

Harriet was naturally very curious, and in combination with her gift for writing led her to journalism, where she achieved great success. The girl moved to New York, where she began working in one of the most prestigious publishing houses of the time. She traveled half the world between 1903 and 1912, taking great photographs from the field events. She could write an article about anything - homework tips au pair, politics, city news. But most of all she was interested theater, theater criticism.



The journalist was self-sufficient and independent - she never married, enjoying her life, dissecting in a private car and providing not only for themselves, but also for their parents. In Hollywood, she was her own - she was known as a socialite, the public adored Harriet. For the movie Quimby also wrote and in her last year created as many as seven scripts, which all were filmed by famous directors. And Harriet in one of films even played a supporting role.





Quimby was always where there was something new. In 1910 she became interested in aviation, having visited one of the aviation tournaments. There she is met one of the best pilots and instructors - John Moisant. It just so happened that John's sister also "got sick" with aviation, so the two ladies began to learn to fly together. They were not accepted to school, but Matilda and Harriet took private lessons, but in 1911 they still received long-awaited pilot's licenses.



Harriet immediately realized that aviation is not just a sport and enthusiasm. It is also a commercial success in half with fame. And became arrange a real show from their flights. Stylish high boots in a fitted suit of purple satin, with a hood thrown over to the very eyebrows, she caused a standing ovation from the audience. It was spectacular. Thousands of men were fascinated by a slender girl conquering the sky.



The year 1912 has come. In the spring, Harriet persuaded Louis Blériot, aircraft designer, lend her a single-seat airplane to fly English Channel (from England to France). Blériot tried to dissuade Quimby from risky idea, and when her friend offered to fly in her place, dressed in her famous purple suit, Harriet flatly refused commit a fraud.

She flew on an airplane, which she saw for the first time in her life. Unfortunately for the pilot, there was fog and visibility was very poor - she had difficulty I could see the compass readings. After 59 minutes, Harriet successfully landed at Calais airport, where she was greeted with thunder applause. But Harriet's flight did not cause worldwide delight, because on the eve of the tragedy of the Titanic, and the whole world spoke only about this.



And in the middle of 1912, Harriet took part in the largest airshow, making a demonstration flight on the new Blériot airplane. Together with she made an honorary circle as the organizer of the event, when For some unknown reason, the car overturned. First thrown out organizer, followed by Harriet. They didn't survive.