07/07/2019
If you're old enough to remember Braniff Airlines, here's where it started.
translated and re-posted with author's permission
by Alfonso Flores Ramos
The First Flight In Mexico
The subject was discussed at every social gathering. Those who claimed familiarity with the new sport of aircraft flying assured all who would listen that it was impossible that the young sportsman, 25 year old Alberto Braniff Ricard, would be able to fly his machine at such a high altitude as that of Mexico City. Only a few of Alberto’s close friends refused to give up the belief that his French-made airplane would, in fact, fly in such a thin atmosphere.
This story begins in France, in the summer of 1909, where Alberto and his family enjoyed a vacation. While they visited the city of Biarritz, Alberto had an opportunity to go up in an aircraft, and flying became a passion with him. He soon convinced the pilot to teach him to fly. The young Mexican and the pilot left for Paris, where Alberto learned to fly over the rolling plains of Issy le Molineux in a bi-plane built by Voisin. Alberto was determined to fly his own airplane in his home country of Mexico, and he bought his own.
Alberto’s new airplane, also built by Voisin, was crated and shipped to Mexico, arriving in Veracruz on December 7, 1909. After the crates were unloaded from the ship they were sent on by rail to Mexico City, where the plane was reassembled in a large, specially-built hangar. By the morning of December 15, the wings were placed on the chassis, and the 8 cylinder engine, which provided an astonishing force of 60 horsepower to lift the machine from the earth, had also been installed.
Balbuena, east of the capital city, was at the time an area of ranches and also some military installations which had the same name. It was decided that Alberto Braniff would begin his flight there, as the people gathered to watch the first airplane lift up and fly over the Republic of Mexico.
Expectations were high on the morning of December 24, 1909 when the splendid Voisin, now known as "La Ciudad de Mexico," was rolled out of the hangar to attempt the flight. But, because of a problem with the engine, the attempt to fly was met with dismal failure. It was determined that a special mixture of gasoline was needed because of the altitude, so that the engine could produce enough power for takeoff.
The next trial flight took place on the morning of January 8, however only a few citizens came to watch the attempted flight this time, convinced that it was folly. But with the added power from the special fuel mix, the Voisin rose to a height of 25 meters, enough to circle over the countryside and achieve the desired result of flying over the spectators before safely landing again.
On that day Alberto Braniff made history. He and his flying machine overcame the lack of density and oxygen in the thin air of Mexico City's 7,000 feet of altitude. His flight was the first in Mexico, and it had been performed by a Mexican citizen. In fact it was the first flight in all of of Latin America. The flight had established a new world record for altitude, and earned for Mexico the title of the seventh nation where flight had taken place.
