Early aviator of Sweden and America, and one of the first to attempt a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Born to an unwed mother, he was christened Hugo Leonardsson. In 1897 became the foster child of Olaf Sundstedt. After stints in the Swedish Navy and as a cab driver, he began working for Sweden's first aviator, Carl Cederström, with the understanding he would be taught to fly.
His first flight was on June 1, 1912, and by June 21 he had set a new altitude record. He was set to receive his flying certificate in July, 1912, when he was involved in the first fatal aviation accident in Sweden when his aircraft propeller struck and killed a young woman. An investigation cleared him of any wrong-doing, and he was issued Swedish flying certificate #9 in August, 1912.
When WWI started, he joined the Swedish Navy as a pilot and served until April, 1916. After an attempt to find flying work in France, he came to the United States, arriving in New York on December 6, 1916.
He began planning his return to Europe, this time in a seaplane of his design, intending to make the first attempt at a non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Unfortunately the aircraft, christened the "Sunrise", was damaged during a test hop and never flew again.
Sundstedt remained in the United States for the remainder of his life, in the aircraft and boat designing business.
His first flight was on June 1, 1912, and by June 21 he had set a new altitude record. He was set to receive his flying certificate in July, 1912, when he was involved in the first fatal aviation accident in Sweden when his aircraft propeller struck and killed a young woman. An investigation cleared him of any wrong-doing, and he was issued Swedish flying certificate #9 in August, 1912.
When WWI started, he joined the Swedish Navy as a pilot and served until April, 1916. After an attempt to find flying work in France, he came to the United States, arriving in New York on December 6, 1916.
He began planning his return to Europe, this time in a seaplane of his design, intending to make the first attempt at a non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Unfortunately the aircraft, christened the "Sunrise", was damaged during a test hop and never flew again.
Sundstedt remained in the United States for the remainder of his life, in the aircraft and boat designing business.
Early aviator of Sweden and America, and one of the first to attempt a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Born to an unwed mother, he was christened Hugo Leonardsson. In 1897 became the foster child of Olaf Sundstedt. After stints in the Swedish Navy and as a cab driver, he began working for Sweden's first aviator, Carl Cederström, with the understanding he would be taught to fly.
His first flight was on June 1, 1912, and by June 21 he had set a new altitude record. He was set to receive his flying certificate in July, 1912, when he was involved in the first fatal aviation accident in Sweden when his aircraft propeller struck and killed a young woman. An investigation cleared him of any wrong-doing, and he was issued Swedish flying certificate #9 in August, 1912.
When WWI started, he joined the Swedish Navy as a pilot and served until April, 1916. After an attempt to find flying work in France, he came to the United States, arriving in New York on December 6, 1916.
He began planning his return to Europe, this time in a seaplane of his design, intending to make the first attempt at a non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Unfortunately the aircraft, christened the "Sunrise", was damaged during a test hop and never flew again.
Sundstedt remained in the United States for the remainder of his life, in the aircraft and boat designing business.
His first flight was on June 1, 1912, and by June 21 he had set a new altitude record. He was set to receive his flying certificate in July, 1912, when he was involved in the first fatal aviation accident in Sweden when his aircraft propeller struck and killed a young woman. An investigation cleared him of any wrong-doing, and he was issued Swedish flying certificate #9 in August, 1912.
When WWI started, he joined the Swedish Navy as a pilot and served until April, 1916. After an attempt to find flying work in France, he came to the United States, arriving in New York on December 6, 1916.
He began planning his return to Europe, this time in a seaplane of his design, intending to make the first attempt at a non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Unfortunately the aircraft, christened the "Sunrise", was damaged during a test hop and never flew again.
Sundstedt remained in the United States for the remainder of his life, in the aircraft and boat designing business.
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