LUIS MARTINEZ-REX

 

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON CHITILA AIRFIELD Gheorghe Negrescu in the pilot's seat, Aurel Vlaicu in the passenger's seat , from left to right military pilots Protopopescu, Parvulescu, Popescu, and the mechanic Nichita Pasev.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES via email from William Giroulle, 5-27-07 Hello:      I just found your web site. Louis MARTINEZ REX was my Grandfather. He married Maria Gotman and they had three daughters ,Marguerite, Violette and Pierrette. Violette was my mother. Louis died at the end of the 1970’s. He was living in Versailles, near Paris, France. If you are interested, I can send you some pictures of my Grandfather with Louis Bleriot. Best regards William

 

Chitila Piloting School via email from Aurelian Simionescu, 12-8-04      Stefan Protopopescu was trained and licensed at Chitila Piloting School, near Bucharest. The school was a joint venture founded by Mihail Cerchez on November 20th 1909. The school, conducted by French flight instructors, had five hangars, rostrums for spectators and assembly shops where Farman planes brought from France were assembled.       Official opening of the school was made on July 9th 1910 when the chief flight instructor and director of the school René Guillemin attempted a demonstration flight. Unfortunately, shortly after take off, he crashed his Farman biplane from a height of 40 meters and broke his leg.      Guillemin was succeeded by Michel Molla who on September 7th 1910 made the first cross flight over Bucharest. Molla was followed by flight instructor Charles Villard (who crushed his plane only 3 days after his arrival from France on May 18th 1911, injured his leg and never flew again) and by Luis Martinez-Rex.      Six officers were trained as pilots on Chitila Piloting School but only two were licensed: sub-lieutenant Stefan Protopopescu and sub-lieutenant Gheorghe Negrescu.       Due to financial difficulties the school was closed in 1912.

 

I have no information as to the dates of his birth or his death.   If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper

 

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