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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0646.PDF
|i /^2SS\ JULY 12, 1928 THE ROME—BRAZIL NON-STOP FLIGHT The Atlantic Again Conquered NEW novels or plays by Edgar Wallace and flights acrossthe Atlantic appear to be becoming permanent thrillers. The latest edition in the latter category is the remarkablenon-stop flight from Rome to Brazil by the two well- known Italian airmen, Capt. Arturo Ferrarin and Maj.del Prete on July 3-5. By this flight, of approximately 5,000 miles, Ferrarinand del Prete have beaten the long-distance record estab- lished by Chamberlin and Levine, when they flew 3,905miles from New York to Eisleben in June last year, although they failed to better their own endurance recordof 58 hrs. 37 mins., established last month. Owing to the conflicting nature of the various reports of theRome-Brazil flight, it is at present difficult to give actual figures as regards times and distance, but roughly speckingit may be said that they were in the air for a period of about 50 hrs. Leaving the Montecelia aerodrome near Rome on theSavoia-Marchetti S.64 monoplane—incidentally the same machine on which they put up the world's duration recordlast month, and since beaten—at 7.51 p.m. on July 3, they proceeded via Sardinia to the North African coast.On striking this coast near Algiers they flew into very hot weather, and eventually passed over Gibraltar inthe early hours of July 4, where fog was encountered. They were next reported over Casablanca, and laterat Rio del Ora, where the journey across the water was commenced. In the evening they passed the Cape VerdeIslands, and then began the flight of nearly 2,000 miles across the Atlantic. During their crossing that nightand the following morning several messages from the machine were picked up by ships at sea.On the Thursday afternoon, July 5, the aeroplane was close enough to the Brazilian coast to enable messagesof greeting to be sent out to those on shore—one, received at Pernambuco, saying " Arriving Brazil we send oursalutations." It appears that on striking the Brazilian coast nearPort Natal, Ferrarin and del Prete continued southwards towards Pernambuco, but soon encountered bad. weatherand fog, which prevented them from picking out their bearings. They, therefore, decided to land. Accordingto some reports a landing was made on the beach at Genipabu (or Senitabu), near Port Natal, at 6 p.m. (localtime). Then it seems a few hours later they set out once more with the intention of continuing towards Riode Janeiro, but .the weather was again too bad, so they decided to return north to Port Natal. Flying low, the airmen succeeded in following thecoast line to Port Natal, but owing to rain and low clouds they were unable to land on the aerodrome—which issituated behind the bills to the south-west. Eventually, however, with the petrol almost exhausted, a forced landing was effected on the sandy beach at Touros Bay,some 100 miles north of Port Natal, during which the wheels of the machine sank into the sand, resulting indamage to the chassis. A Brazilian mail 'plane at once proceeded to the spot,and conveyed the two airmen back to Port Natal on July 6, where they were given a tremendous reception.Subsequently, Ferrarin and del Prete flew in a mail plane K CipeTowTT' THE NON-STOP SOUTH ATLANTIC FLIGHT :Sketch map showing the approximate route taken by Capt. Ferrarin and Major del Prete to Rio de Janeiro, and here another enthusiastic welcomewas given to the airmen. Naturally, this fine flight—which is an all-Italian effort—has given rise to considerable joy in Italy, while Sir Samuel Hoare, British Secretary of State for Air, has sent the follow-ing telegram to General Balbo, the Italian Under Secretary of State for Air : " On behalf of Air Council, tender hearty THE NON-STOP SOUTH ATLANTIC FLIGHT ; The Savoia-Marchetti S 64 monoplane, fitted with a 550 h.p.Fiat A. 22T engine, on which Capt. Ferrarin and Major del Prete made a non-stop flight from Rome to Brazil - 594
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