Jorge Chavez Darnell: The Forgotten Aviator

Abstract

This paper describes some of the early inception of man exploration, and the determination for flight. It gives a background of a young man’s early achievements that led to the first crossing of the Alps. Although Jorge Chavez Darnell made one of the great achievements in aviation, he has been all but forgotten in aviation history. It was an era in which men of courage were passionate in reaching greater heights and speeds. Civilian inventors and innovators propelled advancements in aviation. Before the Wright brothers proved that controlled, powered flight could be achieved, they had over 1000 flight hours in gliders prior to the first motorized flight on December 17, 1903 (Kane, 2003). At the same time that the Wright brothers were pursuing to be the first in flight, Europeans shared the same ambitions. It was a time of early aviation history when airplane fuselages were built of wood and canvas, and men were attempting to break altitude, and speed records (Rhoades, 2013). While pilots in those days did not have a parachute, what they had was great courage, bravery, and faith that they could reach higher heights and faster speeds. One of these men of courage was Jorge Chavez Darnell.  Of Peruvian descent, in 1909, at the age of 21, he graduated as an engineer and became an aviator (Gagliardi, 2009). Competitions in Europe and the United States encouraged breaking altitudes and speed records.  One of those competitions was the crossing of the great Alps. As a result of hazardous weather conditions, his aircraft suffered serious damage to the wing. While he was just meters from the runway, his wings folded and the aircraft fell to the ground. Jorge Chavez was taken to the hospital where days later, he died from the injuries. Today, he is honored as one of the earliest pioneers in aviation in Peru, but unlike other European and U.S. aviators, he has been all but lost in world history.