Jacob Christian Ellehammer was apprenticed as a youth to a watchmaker. He developed his skills in miniature devices and later taught himself the principles of electricity and the internal combustion engine. His early commercial success with a motorcycle design permitted him to indulge his pursuit of powered flight. His studies of birds enabled him to calculate the horsepower required to fly and to translate these calculations into his own design of a radial engine. Unaware of the Wright's first flight in December of 1903, Ellehammer continued to experiment and on September 12th 1906, he became the first European to fly an airplane. His feat was accomplished on the tiny island of Lindholm and consisted of a flight of 421 meters at an altitude of 50 centimeters. The rapid aviation success of other Europeans led Ellehammer to shift his focus to vertical flight, and in 1912 he succeeded in making a helicopter rise from the ground. An unfortunate accident to one of his aircraft in 1916 caused him to halt aviation experiments until 1930, when his earlier interest was reawakened. He continued to aid in the development of Danish aviation until his death. Jacob Christian Ellehammer's life exemplified the inquisitiveness of the inventor and the daring and courage of the pioneer. His practical contributions opened the way for European aviation development.
Inducted in 1986.
Portrait Location: Not Currently on Floor