With a wingspan of 12 metres, Eda I traveled only 60 metres at the altitude of two metres on its maiden flight on 25 November, but after a few improvements a couple of days later it managed 600 metres at a much higher altitude of 12 metres.
Powered by a 25 horse power engine built in France, the design for Eda I was based on plans for an American Curtiss airplane.
Following several modification and improvements to the original Eda I and subsequent of mono-, bi- and tri-plane versions, Edvard was ready to take further steps in his aviation career.
Together with his brother Josip he moved to Zagreb, where they worked with businessman Mihajlo Mercep to start a commercial airplane business.
The first prototype they built in Zagreb was a special achievement in its own right, as the 50-horse power plane had the capability of taking off after an only 28-metre run, a world record at the time.
With their new plane, Sokol (Falcon), the Rusjan brothers started a tour of the Balkans. Sokol performed exceptionally well at a show in Zagreb, amazing the crowd of spectators.
Enthusiastic over the performance of his newest airplane, Rusjan wanted to repeat the spectacular Zagreb flight at a plane show in Belgrade only a couple of days later, on 9 November 1911.
Deciding to take off despite strong gusts of wind, Rusjan managed to make a few flypasts over the Kalemegdan fortress in Belgrade, but the plane crashed after a gust of wind broke off its left wing.
Rusjan died on the way to hospital, his short but fruitful aviation career being over only 14 months after his first flight. His funeral in Belgrade was attended by some 14,000 people.
Rusjan, born on 6 June 1886 in Trieste, became interested in flying when he was only 11. Documents on his life and work are kept at the Belgrade Aviation Museum.
The Rusjan brothers are considered the pioneers of Slovenian aviation. To honour his life and work, Slovenia renamed the Maribor airport after Edvard Rusjan last year.
Several events have been held this week to celebrate Rusjan's achievements, while the main ceremony will take place today in Nova Gorica (W), where the Rusjans lived. The ceremony will be attended by Nova Gorica Mayor Mirko Brulc, MEP Jelko Kacin (ALDE/LDS) and Grazia Rusjan, a niece of the famous brothers.
