Jacques Schneider

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Jacques Schneider (1879–1928) was the French financier, balloonist and aircraft enthusiast, who created the Schneider Trophy.

He was the son of an armament manufacturer. For a long time, with 10,081 m he held the high altitude record in ballooning. His interest in engine powered heavier-than-air flights started when he saw Wilbur Wright performing a flight demonstration in Le Mans in August 1908. After he had to abandon flying due to a severe accident, he became the constant supporter of various flight contests. On September 5, 1912 at the Aéroclub de France, he proposed the “Coupe d'Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider” (Schneider Trophy), a contest for seaplanes that should support the technical progress of civil aviation. The participants had to fly a distance of at least 150 miles. The reward for the winner was 25.000 gold francs and a cup worth the same prize. In case a nation would win the cup within five years three times, the cup should be finally belong to them.

Persondata
NAME	Schneider, Jacques
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Inventor of the Schneider Trophy
DATE OF BIRTH	1879
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH	1928
PLACE OF DEATH