Heraclio Alfaro Fournier (Vitoria, 1893–1962) was a Spanish aeronautical engineer and aviator considered one of the pioneers of aviation in Spain. The grandson of the founder of the Fournier playing card factory, he showed a keen interest in aeronautics from a young age. He studied in Vitoria and Ghent and became passionate about flying when, in 1909, he witnessed some fellow countrymen attempt to fly a replica of the Wright brothers' Flyer. At just 16, Alfaro was already building and piloting gliders. In 1911, he trained as a pilot in France, becoming, at 18, one of the youngest officially licensed aviators in the world.
Upon returning to Vitoria, he participated in the creation of Spain's first civilian aviation school and designed his own airplane, the Alfaro 2, which flew before 25,000 people in 1914. He subsequently worked in Madrid and Barcelona, where he built several military and civilian airplanes and collaborated with engineers such as Jorge Loring. In 1920, he moved to the United States, where he worked with Orville Wright and later studied aeronautical engineering at MIT. He developed a brilliant career as an engineer and university professor, designing innovative airplanes, gliders, and engines. His notable achievements include the X-13 monoplane and the introduction of Juan de la Cierva's autogyro to North America, in collaboration with Harold Pitcairn.
Over the course of his life, he registered 24 patents in the United States and six in Canada. In 1942, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and returned to Spain after World War II. He spent his final years in Madrid and Vitoria, dedicated to technical translation and maintaining ties with the aeronautical community. In 1953, the Vitoria Aero Club was named in his honor, in recognition of his decisive contribution to the development of Spanish and global aviation.
