John B. Moisant (25 April, 1868 - 31 December, 1910) was a United States aviator.

Moisant was born in Kankakee, Illinois. He was independently wealthy, owning plantations in Central America. His interest in aviation began in 1909 when he saw an airshow at Reims, France. He took flying lessons from Louis Blériot and began his own short but distinguished flying career.

John Moisant won a number of aviation races and contests. He designed, built and flew the first metal aircraft, an experimental aluminium plane, in 1909. On August 23 1910, he flew the first flight with a passenger across the English Channel.

With his brother Alfred Moisant he formed the Moisant International Aviators, a flying circus which went barnstorming around the United States. His sister, Matilde Moisant, was the second American woman to receive her pilot's license.

Moissant died in an air crash while landing in a field in Kenner, Louisiana. His remains are in the Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

The international airport of New Orleans, Louisiana was originally named Moisant Field in his honor; it has since been renamed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

External links

• Moisant on Centennial of flight site
• Moisant on Early Aviators site