René Gasnier (1874-1913) was a French aviator who competed in the Gordon-Bennett Cup (ballooning) in 1907. The Gordon-Bennett Cup (or Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett) is the world’s oldest gas balloon race. Gasnier represented the Aéro Club de France in the 1907 race, which began from St. Louis. He covered 1800 kilometres in 38 hours in the balloon Anjou, placing 7th in the race. His interest in flying extended to gliders and planes, and in 1908 he designed an aircraft that he successfully took out for a short flight at an altitude of about 6 metres. His aircraft is kept in the regional air museum in Angers-Marcé. He went on to become a pilot and instructor.

Click here to view the René Gasnier Travel Journal, 1907 finding aid