Vincent de Groof
Belgian painter and aeronaut, one of the pioneers of aviation
About Vincent de Groof
Lived 1830 – 1874 (aged 43–44). Vincent de Groof was a Belgian balloonist, painter and draftsperson.
Vincent de Groof (6December 18309July 1874) was a Dutch-Belgian early pioneering aeronaut. He created an early model of an ornithopter and successfully demonstrated its use before fatally crashing the machine in London. He was a shoemaker by trade.
The machine, weighing approximately , was built out of a waterproof silk membrane stretched over a cane frame. It had a wingspan, with wings that had a breadth of . The machine's tail was long by wide. De Groof stood upright in a wooden frame at the center of the machine, where he could control the craft using a set of three hand-operated levers.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Vincent de Groof?
Belgian painter and aeronaut, one of the pioneers of aviation (1830–1874)
When was Vincent de Groof born?
Vincent de Groof was born in 1830 in Rotterdam.
When did Vincent de Groof die?
Vincent de Groof died in 1874 in London.
What was Vincent de Groof's occupation?
Vincent de Groof was a balloonist, painter and draftsperson.
What nationality was Vincent de Groof?
Vincent de Groof was Belgian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Vincent de Groof. https://biography.guide/vincent-de-groof/
MLA: "Vincent de Groof." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/vincent-de-groof/.
Chicago: "Vincent de Groof." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/vincent-de-groof/.
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