Feng Ru

Feng Ru (simplified Chinese: 冯如; traditional Chinese: 馮如; pinyin: Féng Rú; 1883–1912), also known as Fung Joe Guey (Chinese: 馮珠九), was a pioneering Chinese aviator and aircraft designer.[1]

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Fung/Feng.

Bust of Feng Ru at Beihang University

Life and career

Born in Enping, Guangdong, Feng moved to the United States at the age of twelve, living and working in various parts of California before trying to settle in San Francisco in 1906, the year that the San Francisco earthquake struck. The earthquake spoiled his plan and sent him fleeing to Oakland. Fung was fascinated by the Wright Brothers' plane and because he was always interested in machinery, one of the first things he did after arriving in Oakland was to organize an airplane manufacturing company, only a few years after the Wright Brothers' Kitty Hawk flight.[2]

Within two years of founding the company in 1908, Fung constructed his first airplane, a sesquiplane with an upper span of 25 ft (7.6 m) and lower of 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), powered by a 6 hp (4.5 kW; 6.1 PS) engine of Fung's own construction.

On September 22, 1909 (several newspapers report the date as Tuesday, September 21, 1909) Fung was the first Chinese man known to fly in America (and first aviator of any nationality to fly in California and the West Coast of the United States). He had constructed his own biplane, improving on the Wrights' blueprints. Fung flew in a wide circle, despite the harsh winds; after twenty minutes, however, the bolt holding the propeller to the shaft snapped off, and he was brought to a stop, suffering only minor bruising.[3] The flight was reported in several papers, including The San Francisco Call and the Oakland Tribune.[1]

Fung returned to China on March 21, 1911, upon the request of Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen, who wanted to use Fung's planes to aid the rebellion against the Qing dynasty.[4] He was accompanied by six Oakland residents and another biplane of his own design. However, on August 26, 1912, he was killed when his plane crashed during an aerial exhibition, in front of 1,000 spectators.[2] Sun Yat-sen insisted that he be buried at the Mausoleum of the 72 Huanghuagang Martyrs, and that his tomb be inscribed with the words "Pioneer of Chinese Aviation".[4]

Legacy

On 21 September 2009, a bronze bust of Fung, the "Father of Chinese Aviation", was unveiled in a ceremony at Laney College in Oakland.[5] One of Fung's workshops, where he designed and built parts of his biplane, was on a site that is now part of the Laney campus, near the heart of commercial Chinatown.[1] The event was organized by Steve Lavoie of the Oakland Public Library and Lieutenant-Colonel Roger Glenn of Amelia Earhart Senior Squadron 188, Civil Air Patrol.

The book Dragonwings is partially inspired by Fung Joe Guey.

See also

• Zee Yee Lee
• Zhu Binhou
• Kwon Ki-ok

References

1. Wong, William (September 18, 2009). "Oakland CA Chinatown Makes Aviation History". SF Gate. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011.
2. Maksel, Rebecca (August 13, 2008). "The Father of Chinese Aviation". Air & Space. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
3. "Feng Ru", Early Aviators.
4. "Pilots, Planes and Pioneers", Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company.
5. "Oakland History Room to Host Feng Ru: Conquering Pacific Skies". Oakland Public Library. August 31, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011.

Further reading

• "Aiming for the sky". China.org.cn. September 21, 2009.
• Eve Armentrout Ma; Jeong Huei Ma. The Chinese of Oakland: Unsung Builders. Oakland Chinese History Research Committee.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)