Nesterov, Pyotr Nikolaevich

From OnAirpower.org

Nesterov, Pyoter Nikolaevich

Name:	Nesterov, Pyoter Nikolaevich (Нестеров, Пётр Николаевич)
Years:	1887-1914
Rank:	Capt.
Nationality:	Russian
Remarks:	Famous Russian (Imperial) pilot notable both for flying the first loop in an airplane (in 1913), and for being the first (in 1914) to down an enemy aircraft in combat, which he did by using a ramming, or "Taran", attack that claimed his life as well.

1 Biography
2 Timeline
3 Sources
4 References

[edit] Biography

Nesterov studied at the Mikhailovsk Artillery School (1904-1906) and began serving with the Artillery in the 9th Eastern Siberian Artillery Brigade, located in Vladivostok. He had his first exposure to aviation there, working with balloons to do artillery correction.^[1]^[2].

In October, 1911 Nesterov entered the Petersburg Officer's Aeronautic School. He made his first airplane flight on September 12, 1912, passed his pilot's exam sixteen days later, and a week after that passed his exam to qualify as a military aviator. He was transferred to Warsaw, and in November, 1912 began training on the Neuport^[1].

[edit] Timeline

February 27, 1887 Russian pilot Pyoter Nikolaevich Nesterov is born^[3].

September 9, 1913 Russian pilot Pyoter Nesterov is the first to fly an airplane in a loop^[2].

September 8, 1914 Russian pilot Pyoter Nesterov makes the first air-to-air "kill" in air combat history using a ramming, or "Taran", attack to down an Austrian reconnaissance plane; Nesterov himself was also killed in the attack^[2].