Alfred Comte
Alfred Comte | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 4, 1895 Delémont, Switzerland |
| Died | November 1, 1965 (aged 70) Zürich, Switzerland |
| Occupation(s) | Pilot, photographer, flight instructor, aviation entrepreneur, aircraft manufacturer |
| Years active | 1913–1950 |
| Known for | Swiss aviation pioneer; founder of Alfred Comte Schweizerische Flugzeugfabrik; early Swiss airline co-founder; military pilot and instructor |
Alfred Comte (born 4 June 1895 – died 1 November 1965) was a pioneering figure in Swiss aviation. His career spanned roles as a pilot, photographer, flight instructor, and one of the earliest aviation entrepreneurs. He notably contributed to the development of both civilian and military aircraft.
Early life and education
Born in Delémont, Switzerland, on 4 June 1895, Alfred Comte was the son of Paul Comte, who worked as a district manager for the Swiss Federal Railways, and Elisa Comte (née Bourquard). His paternal lineage traced back to Courtételle.
Career
At just 15 years old, Comte engineered a motorized bicycle. He earned his private pilot’s certificate from the Aéro-Club de France in 1913. With the outbreak of World War I, he served as a pilot in the Swiss armed forces and later became an instructor for military aviation. In 1916, he conducted nocturnal patrol flights over Delémont to safeguard Swiss airspace after unexplained bombings occurred in Porrentruy. Following this, Germany and France agreed to Switzerland's suggestion to install light beacons along their shared borders to reduce airspace violations.
On 5 November 1919, Comte co-established an airline specializing in aerial photography and passenger transport named Comte, Mittelholzer, and Co.. A year later, this enterprise merged with the more financially stable Ad Astra Aero. Alfred Comte frequently showcased his skills at aerobatic exhibitions and was instrumental in pioneering the air route connecting Zürich and London. By December 1920, he founded his own flight school utilizing flying boats; this included six Austrian Lohner TL-1917/R seaplanes (registered CH-61 to CH-65) stationed at Oberrieden on the shores of Lake Zurich. During World War II, Comte returned to military aviation duties, achieving the rank of captain. Between 1946 and 1950, he operated another flight school located in the Limmat Valley and played a role in founding the private airfield Wangen-Lachen near the southern shore of lake Obersee (Lake Zurich). He retired from active flying before passing away in Zürich in 1965.
Alfred Comte Schweizerische Flugzeugfabrik
From 1923 until 1935, Alfred Comte dedicated his efforts to designing and manufacturing aircraft through his own enterprise, Alfred Comte Schweizerische Flugzeugfabrik. Approximately 40 airplanes were produced during this period, alongside eight Fokker D.VII models constructed under license for the Swiss Air Force. Despite earning a solid reputation for quality, the company struggled financially. A fire further damaged some of Comte's aircraft designs. The economic impact of the Great Depression severely affected the small firm, and even a shift to producing tubular steel furniture could not prevent its downfall; the business ultimately declared bankruptcy in 1935.
Between 1923 and 1935, Alfred Comte was responsible for the design and construction of several aircraft types:
- Wild 43
- (1923–26), intended for training purposes, with six units built and exported to China and Colombia
- Wild X
- (1927/28), designed for combat and reconnaissance roles, eight produced and exported to Colombia
- AC-1
- (1926), a fighter aircraft with a single example built; in evaluations, the Swiss Air Force opted for the Dewoitine D.27
- AC-2
- a two-seat sport biplane powered by a 60 hp engine, which was never constructed
- AC-3
- (1929/30), created for transport and bombing missions, one unit built
- AC-4 Gentleman
- (1928–30), a two-seat sport and training plane, eleven manufactured; utilized by the Swiss Air Force and other operators
- AC-5
- a six-seat aircraft equipped with a 200 hp Wright engine, not brought to production
- AC-6
- a two-seat biplane intended for training with a 200 hp Wright Whirlwind engine or military use featuring a 400 hp Gnome-Rhône Jupiter engine, never built
- AC-7
- a two-seat high-wing trainer powered by a 500 hp Gnome-Rhône Jupiter engine, not realized
- AC-8
- (1929/30), designed as a passenger aircraft with three units constructed, possibly operated by Ad Astra Aero, or alternatively an AC-4 model was used
- AC-9
- a tri-motor airliner project that remained unbuilt
- AC-10
- an evolution of the AC-1 featuring a 480 hp Gnome-Rhône Jupiter engine, not produced
- AC-11-V
- (1931), developed for liaison and reconnaissance tasks, one unit built but rejected by the Swiss Air Force
- AC-12 Moskito
- (circa 1931–35), an airliner with eight examples manufactured
Personal life
Alfred Comte was married to Erika Zeller, who worked as a language teacher. Together they had three children:
- Ellen Comte, who married Eric Boxall and had descendants
- Lottie Comte, who married Nuri Yüksel and had descendants
- Alfred Heinrich Comte (1926–2022), married to Sylvia Maria Boetschi (1928–2015); their son is Michel Comte (born 1954), recognized as an accomplished photographer.
Comte passed away on 1 November 1965 in Zürich, Switzerland at the age of 70. He was laid to rest in Witikon.
Literature
- Roland Eichenberger: Die Flugzeuge von Alfred Comte, Liebefeld 1968.
- Roland Eichenberger. Alfred Comte (1895–1965), featured in Schweizer Pioniere der Wirtschaft und Technik, Volume 46. Glarus Verlag, Zürich 1987.
References
External links
- Template:HDS
- Walter Dürig: Zur Geschichte der schweizerischen Eigenentwicklung von Flugzeugen (Digital copy, 69 KB) (in German)