Pierre de Caters

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Baron Pierre de Caters (25 December 1875, Berchem – 21 March 1944, Paris) was a Belgian adventurer, aviator and racer. In 1908 he became Belgium’s first airplane pilot. In 1909 he earned the Belgian Aero Club’s pilot license and won a gold medal for flying the first kilometer. He started Belgium’s first aircraft factory and was the country’s first military aviation instructor. He also raced cars and motorboats in Belgium and France. In 1904 he briefly set Belgium’s land speed record on a beach at Ostend, reaching about 97 mph.

In World War I he joined Belgian military aviation and led the flying school at Étampes. In 1910–1911 he toured India with fellow Belgian pilot Jules Tyck, flying from Calcutta to Bangalore and Secunderabad, with at least one flight carrying a passenger. The trip ended in Europe, and the Aviator company later dissolved; de Caters did not take part in further competitions.