Karl Jatho

Who was Karl Jatho?

Karl Jatho was a German pioneer and inventor, performer and public servant of the city of Hanover.

From August through November 1903, Jatho made progressively longer hops in a pusher triplane, then biplane, at Vahrenwalder Heide outside of Hanover. His first flight, was only 18 meters at about 1 meter altitude, and was not controlled. Jatho eventually gave up, noting "In spite of many efforts, cannot make longer or higher flights. Motor weak." [Gibbs-Smith, C. H. The Aeroplane: An Historical Survey, pp. 319–320]. With a later machine, Jatho would make successful flights around November 1903 – 60 meters at about at 3–4 meters altitude, 1 month earlier than the Wright-Brothers.

He also founded a flying school and a plane factory, but did not have much success.