Gerry Farell <> writes:

I was stiken when I recently saw the double lateen sail hang glider made and flown by Lavezzari shown here: http://ozreport.com/pub/deberck.jpg. I did some research in French web sites and this is what I found:

Jan Lavezzari (3/January/1876 – 11/May/ 1947) was a gifted painter, born in Paris, France of a well known architect: Emile Lavezzari. Jan studied engineering before he moved to Berck beach in 1900, where he decided to become a professional painter instead and decided to stay there. Jan Lavezzari decorated the interior of a few local public buildings and produced several oil paintings that are seemingly valuable today.

Biographers record that Jan Lavezzari liked the outdoor, adventure and that he preferred the company of fishermen, who often took him out to sea. Most of his paintings portray sailboats. His engineering education in this maritime environment likely prompted him to realize that that if a vertical sail is placed horizontally, it could become a wing.

In February 15th, 1904 at the age of 27 years, he tested a double lateen sail hang glider off the Berck beach dunes. A high school in Berck bears his name. http://membres.lycos.fr/cradc/peinture.htm  http://www2c.ac-lille.fr/jlavezzari/jan_lavezzari.htm

Discuss Lavezzari at the Oz Report forum
   
 
 
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