Aida de Acosta: America’s First Pilot
Aida de Acosta was a fixture in well-heeled New York social circles before she made aviation history during her solo flight on a summer day in Paris in 1903.
By Terry Kraus, FAA Historian
Aida de Acosta lived a life of privilege. She was born on July 28, 1884, in Elberon, N.J., to steamship Captain Ricardo de Acosta, of Cuban descent, and Micaela Hernandes de Alba, a likely descendant of the Spanish Dukes of Alba. Growing up in New York City, among the gentry, she was well known in the city’s social circles.
During the summer of 1903, she travelled to Paris with her mother. There she witnessed Alberto Santos-Dumont flying his dirigible, №9. Fascinated by flight, she convinced Santos-Dumont to teach her how to fly in his aircraft. He agreed, but since the dirigible only had one seat, all of her instruction was on the ground. After only three lessons, on June 29, 1903, she made her solo flight — the first woman to fly a powered aircraft — nearly six months before the Wright Brothers made their first flight.
De Acosta flew the dirigible from Neuilly St. James to the polo field at Bagatella at the northern end of the Bois de Boulogne. During the 15-minute flight, Santos-Dumont rode a bicycle below her offering advice by giving her predetermined signals by waving his handkerchief. The dirigible flew at about 15 miles per hour, so he had no problem keeping up with the aircraft.
She landed on the polo field during a match between an American and a British team. Spectators had to help her out of the dirigible’s small basket, so the match could continue. After she landed, Santos-Dumont asked how she enjoyed the experience. She simply replied, “It is very nice, Mr. Santos-Dumont.” According to Acosta, a very excited Santos-Dumont exclaimed, “Mademoiselle, vous êtes la première aero-chauffeuse du monde!” (“Miss, you are the first woman aero-driver in the world!”).
After spending a few minutes watching the polo match with Santos Dumont, Acosta got back into the dirigible’s basket and flew it back to Neuilly St. James. Acosta’s parents were mortified when they found out about the flight. They feared that all prospects for a good marriage for their daughter had disappeared because of her foolish act. They made Santos-Dumont promise that he would never reveal her identity — a promise he kept. Acosta never flew again.
Whisked back to the United States, Acosta devoted herself to a number of social welfare programs. In 1908, she married Oren Root II, a nephew of American statesman and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Elihu Root. They divorced in 1922, the same year she lost vision in one eye as a result of glaucoma. An operation performed by Dr. William H. Wilmer saved some vision in her other eye. Thankful for his expertise, she helped raised $5 million to build the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Medical School in Baltimore, Md., which opened in 1925 and moved into a new building in 1929.
In 1927, Acosta married Col. Henry Breckinridge, a close friend of Charles Lindbergh, who served as Lindbergh’s attorney during the Lindbergh kidnapping case. In 1933, while hosting Lt. George Calnan for dinner, the young naval office expressed an interest in learning to fly dirigibles. When Breckenridge and Calnan discussed the merits of dirigibles, Acosta finally recounted her historic flight. She later described the flight as a “school girl prank.” (The same year, Calnan was among the fatalities in the 1933 crash of the USS Akron.)
Once they found out about her exploit, the press became enamored with the aviator socialite. She seemed to largely ignore the notoriety, focusing instead on pet projects. In 1945, for example, she founded the Eye Bank for Sight Restoration, an organization that still collects tissue from the eyes of deceased individuals for use in corneal graft operations today.
Interested in children’s health issues, she also worked tirelessly for the Child Health Association and spearheaded efforts to have an annual Child Health Day, which is now celebrated on the first Monday in October. She also worked for the American Red Cross and the Frontier Nursing Service.
In 1935, Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia named her chairman of the new Municipal Art Committee. As chairman, she was to “stimulate the artistic life and expression of the city.” She held that position for five year, promoting exhibits in a municipal art gallery, operas in city schools, and song contests. She also served as editor of the city’s art magazine, “Exhibition.”
Acosta and Breckenridge divorced in 1947. She died in Bedford, N.Y., at the age of 77. She had two children, Oren and Alva Root, with her first husband.
