Ștefan Protopopescu

Ștefan Protopopescu
Major Ștefan Protopopescu, c. 1925
NicknameBîrță
Born(1886-01-14)14 January 1886
Died10 October 1929(1929-10-10) (aged 43)
Allegiance Romania
BranchRomanian Army (1909-1913)
Romanian Air Corps (1913–1924)
Romanian Air Force (1924-1929)
Service years1909–1929
RankLieutenant colonel
CommandsEscadrila N.11 (N.11 Squadron) (until September 1917)
Grupul 1 Aeronautic (1st Aeronautical Group) (from December 1918)
ConflictsFirst World War
AwardsVirtutea Militară 1st class
Order of the Star of Romania
Order of the Crown of Romania
Légion d'honneur

Ștefan Protopopescu (14 January 1886 – 10 October 1929) was a Romanian officer and aviation pioneer, he held the no. 1 pilot license in Romania, being the first licensed pilot in Romania and the first pilot of the Romanian Army.