George Valentin, Prince Bibescu (3 April 1880, Bucharest – 2 July 1941, Bucharest) was a Romanian early motoring and aviation pioneer.
Prince George III Valentin Bibescu, nephew of Gheorghe Bibescu, domnitor (ruler) of Wallachia, had an early interest in aviation; he flew a balloon named Romania brought from France 1905.
Later he tried to teach himself how to fly a Voisin airplane, also brought from France, but without success.
After Louis Blériot’s demonstrative flight in Bucharest on October 18, 1909, he went to Paris and enrolled in Blériot’s school in Pau.
On January 1910, he obtained the International Pilot License number 20. After returning from France, Bibescu organized the Cotroceni Piloting School in Bucharest and founded the Romanian National Aeronautic League.
He was instrumental in founding the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). He was vice-president, and president of the FAI.
He was co-founder of the Romanian Automobile Club (1901), and of the Romanian Olympic Committee (1914). Romania was among the first 6 nations in the world to organize car races.
Romanian Aristocrat and aviation pioneer George-Valentin Bibescu,
during training at the Pau Flying School (Blériot Aéronautique), France
(bunicutavirtuala.com)
