European manufacturer

Alfred Comte

Alfred Comte (4 June 1895 – 1 November 1965) was a Swiss aviation pioneer. He was active as a pilot, photographer, instructor, and also as one of the first aviation entrepreneurs. He was successful in the construction of civilian and military aircraft.
Early life and education

Comte was born 4 June 1895 in Delémont, Switzerland, to Paul Comte, a district manager for the Swiss Federal Railways, and Elisa Comte (née Bourquard). His paternal family originally hailed from Courtételle.

1aircraft
1927first flights
Switzerlandcountry

History

Alfred Comte Schweizerische Flugzeugfabrik

Between 1923 and 1935, Alfred Comte concentrated on airplane design and construction in his own company, Alfred Comte Schweizerische Flugzeugfabrik. In all, around 40 aircraft were built, with an additional eight Fokker D.VII under license for the Swiss Air Force. The company had a good reputation, but financially it was not successful, and a fire destroyed some of Comte’s designs. The Great Depression hit the small business hard; it could not be saved even by switching to the production of tubular steel furniture, and in 1935 filed for bankruptcy.

From 1923 to 1935, Alfred Comte designed and built several aircraf

Comte was married to Erika Zeller, a language instructor, with whom he had three children:

  • Ellen Comte, married to Eric Boxall, with issue
  • Lottie Comte, married to Nuri Yüksel, with issue
  • Alfred Heinrich Comte (1926-2022), married to Sylvia Maria Boetschi (1928-2015); one son, Michel Comte (born 1954), who became a prominent photographer.

He died 1 November 1965 in Zürich, Switzerland aged 70. He was buried in Witikon.[

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