Rudi Kappel
Ronald "Rudi" Elwin Kappel (8 November 1926 – 6 October 1959) was a Surinamese pilot. He was one of the founders of Luchtvaartbedrijf Kappel-Van Eyck which is now called Surinam Airways, the first airline in Suriname.[2] He also helped construct the Zorg en Hoop Airport, and the Rudi Kappel Airstrip. Kappel died in an air crash near Paloemeu.
Kappel was born on 8 November 1926 in Port of Spain, Trinidad.[1] Both his parents were from Suriname.[3] He went to the United States and obtained his pilot licence[4] in 1948.[5]
In 1950, Kappel met Leendert Jägers, director of Ypenburg Airport near the Hague, with whom he had wanted to establish the first Surinamese airline company.[4][6] They had planned to begin operations in February 1951.[7] A second-hand Cessna AT-17 Bobcat was purchased.[4] On 5 February, one engine failed near Aruba, and then the other stopped as well. Kappel was forced to make an emergency landing at Bubali. Both Kappel and Maurice Young, his passenger, escaped with minor injuries. However, the plane was lost,[8] and not insured.[4]
In 1952, Kappel and Herman van Eyck, owner of the 7 Up factory in Suriname, founded Luchtvaartbedrijf Kappel-Van Eyck, and received permission to start a cargo airline in Suriname. They were not allowed to transport passengers,[5] because the government wanted to start a national airline.[9]: 20 Kappel and van Eyck possessed only one airplane based in Zanderij Airport. In order to expand operations, van Eyck sold his factory, and the Zorg en Hoop Airport in Paramaribo was constructed.[5]
On 1 October 1952, Luchtvaartbedrijf Kappel-Van Eyck received permission to transport passengers.[9]: 20 On 13 October,[10] Kappel flew to Camaguey Air Base, Cuba, and wanted to fly on to Santiago de Cuba using a letter of recommendation of the mayor of Paramaribo.[11] Upon landing in Santiago, he was arrested. After contacting the Dutch embassy, he was released; however, he was arrested again when he tried to leave Santiago. With the aid of the embassy, he was released for a second time.[12][11] The negotiations with the Surinamese government to establish a national airline were difficult.[5] In 1954, Kappel closed the company and started flying in British Guiana.[9]: 25
On 1 January 1955, the Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij (SLM) was founded as the national airline. Kappel and van Eyck were reimbursed for their investments,[9]: 25 and Kappel became chief pilot for the SLM.[5]
