Description

The year 1909 was full of innovations in aviation, technical solutions and competitions in the duration and length of flights. In that year, too, the aviation enthusiasts and brothers Edvard and Josip Rusjan made their first aircraft, the EDA I, which was 12 metres long and had a biplane wingspan of 8 metres. This aircraft first flew in November: at a height of two metres it flew for 60 metres. This was not merely hops, but actually the first proper powered flight, during which the aircraft consistently responded to commands. The Rusjan brothers prepared the EDA I again for flight, and on 29 November 1909 during a flight at Male Rojce pri Gorici the aircraft rose 12 metres into the air and flew for 600 metres. The flight could have been even longer if Edvard had known that everything was all right with the aircraft. He opted to land and calmly lowered the craft onto the meadow. The brothers, who reported regularly to Vienna, wrote in their report that "during the flight the aircraft described a fine circle". Reporters wrote that "Edvard flew around Roje at a speed of 40 km an hour".

On the centenary of the first flight by a powered aircraft in Slovenia, the Republic of Slovenia is issuing special collector coins.

Engraver: Gorazd Učakar