John Moisant
Aviator
Died when: 42 years 250 days (512 months)Star Sign: Taurus
John Bevins Moisant (April 25, 1868 – December 31, 1910), known as the "King of Aviators," was an American aviator, aeronautical engineer, flight instructor, businessman, and revolutionary.
He was the first pilot to conduct passenger flights over a city (Paris), as well as across the English Channel, from Paris to London.
He co-founded an eponymous flying circus, the .Moisant funded his aviation career with proceeds from business ventures in El Salvador, where he had led two failed revolutions and coup attempts against President Figueroa in 1907 and 1909.
Only months after becoming a pilot, Moisant died after being ejected from his airplane over a field just west of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was competing for the 1910 Michelin Cup.
The site of his crash is the location of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, which was originally named Moisant Field in his memory.
