with Edvard Rusjan
Gorica, 10.5.1910
Edvard and Jože Rusjan's father
Gorica, 20.2.1912
Neža: In your family you are barrel makers. How did it happen that you and your brother choose the aviation?
E. Rusjan: We were attracted by the endless space of the sky. We admired birds during the year and we decided to devote our life to the sky.
Neža: Did your parents supported your wishes?
E. Rusjan: Of course they did. They helped us a lot. But it was rather different with the citizens. At our first unsuccessful experiments, they laughed, but when we succeeded, they started to encourage us.
Neža: You make planes together with your brother.Were there ever any disagreements?
E. Rusjan: Of course, sometimes we have a small quarrel but usually we co-operate well.
Neža: Many experiments failed. Did you ever wish to stop or were you determined to persist till the end?
E. Rusjan: I persisted, regardless of how many times it fails.
Neža: What about your feelings when you have touched the sky for the first time?
E. Rusjan: It was something special, unique, I can t describe it.Suddenly you see the Earth and houses under you ... I was fascinated, what a pleasure, piece and happiness.
Neža: Are you ever afraid to crash?
E. Rusjan: Sure, there is always some fear, but the wish to fly is stronger.
Neža: Why did you name all the planes Eda?
E. Rusjan: We named them after me, they call me Eda.
Neža: Is it through that your plane surpassed the world record?
E. Rusjan: They say so.The last time I flew 100m high.
Neža: I have heard that you also competed with the bike? What were your results?
E. Rusjan: I was always among the first ones.
Neža: Thank you, for the time you took for the interview? I wish you to stay among the best, the first in cycling and flying.
E. Rusjan: Thank you, for your coming all away from Ljubljana. Next time we will make a nice flight together, if you wish.
Neža Žorž, 6.b
Žiga: Mr. Rusjan, what do you say?Is there anything that you could be famous of ?
Father Rusjan: If I give it a good thought, yes. I would be proud of my two sons Edvard and Joze. They were producing aircraft,as you know. Edvard was the first flier in Habsburg monarchy. Well actually they are saying that he was the second.
Žiga: You are a barrel maker. How did your sons come to an idea to produce aircrafts and fly with them?
Father Rusjan: How do I know? All of a sudden it became an interest to them. I'm gratefull to them that they didn t give up barrel making. I couldn't have done it all on my own.
Žiga: How did you take their decison?
Father Rusjan: Well at first I didn't think that anything serious would come out of it. One evening we were talking about it and I told them straight:"You can play but don't forget barrels come first!" My goodness I didn't expect anything out of it!
Žiga: And then they started ...
Father Rusjan: Yes, they started to saw and hammer and what do I know what. When I saw their product I thought:"This will never fly". And in the beginig it did not. But they persisted and then it lifted of the gorund. My goodness if you could know how I was proud!
Žiga: Then they had a success. But the later aircraft didn't want to fly.
Father Rusjan: Actually only a few aircraft flew. But I admire their hard will that they never gave up. Sometimes they were really depressed. They always managed to carry on.
Žiga: The problems were with the motors right?
Father Rusjan: Something was with it. Well you know I'm a barrel maker and I can't tell you exactly what was wrong. Of course if the motor haven't got enough power ...
Žiga: What happened next?
Father Rusjan: Edvard met some croatian manufacturer and left with him for Zagreb. Don't you know that?
Žiga: Were you ever afraid for him?
Father Rusjan: Sorry but this is strange. Am I a father or not? A father is always afraid for his son. Joze was afraid for him also. They were good brothers.
Žiga: And then accident ...
Father Rusjan: That was terrible. When I found out I almost had an heart attack. He was only 25 and he already had to die. His fame killed him.
Žiga: Joze was left out a bit from all this... I want to say Edvard was more famous.
Father Rusjan: That's how it is, Joze was just producing but Edvard was producing and flying. They supported each other. Edvar was more brave.
Žiga: Why dind't you join the producing of the aircraft?
Father Rusjan: I told you already - I'm a Bareel maker. Barrels are my field of interest. Thats what I know but for the aircraft ... Ah that's my sons field of interest.
Žiga: I wish you many good and solid barrels.
Father Rusjan: Oh, thank you.
Žiga Rus, 6.b
