Carlo del Prete

Carlo del Prete (died 1928,) was a pioneer aviator from Italy.

Record flights

On 31 May 1928, Arturo Ferrarin and Major Carlo del Prete broke three world records in the Savoia-Marchetti S.64 by making 51 round trips between Torre Flavia (in Ladispoli) and Anzio.[1] When they landed on 3 June, they had covered 7,666 km (4,791 mi) – a new world distance record over a closed circuit – and stayed aloft for 58 hours 34 minutes – a new world endurance record.[1][2] Moreover, they also set the world record for top speed over a distance of 5,000 km (3,110 mi) of 139 km/h (87 mph).[1][2] With the record attempt successfully concluded, an announcement was made that this was to be a proving exercise for a Rome–New York transatlantic flight.[3]

The following month Ferrarin and del Prete did indeed cross the Atlantic in the S.64, not to New York, but across the South Atlantic to Brazil. Departing Montecelio on the evening of 3 July, they flew over Sardinia overnight, and then Gibraltar early the next morning.[4][5] During 4 July their course covered Casablanca and Villa Cisneros,[4] and by that evening they were over the Cape Verde islands and headed for Brazil.[5][6] On the morning of 5 July, they were within radio range of Pernambuco.[5] Crossing the Brazilian coast near Natal, they continued south, hoping to reach Rio de Janeiro.[5] However, poor weather forced the aviators to turn back towards Natal.[5][6] Now running low on fuel and with the weather still against them, they were forced to abandon landing there as well, since the aerodrome lay behind a row of hills.[5] Instead, they continued north for another 160 km (100 mi) and made a forced landing on a beach at Touros.[5][7] A Brazilian mail plane conveyed Ferrarin and del Prete first to Natal and then to Rio de Janeiro, where in both cities they were given a heroes' welcome.[5] The S.64 suffered structural damage during its landing on the sand, and was brought to Rio de Janeiro by ship.[5][7] When it arrived in the city, it was donated to Brazil.[7] During the flight from Italy, the S.64 had covered 8,100 km (5,030 mi) in 48 hours, 14 minutes. The FAI officially recognised this as a flight of 7,188 km (4,500 mi) – the orthodromic distance between Montecelio and Natal – and a new world straight-line distance record.[2]

The festivities in Rio de Janeiro continued for weeks, but came to an end when Ferrarin and del Prete crashed during a demonstration flight in a S.62 on 11 August.[7] Del Prete died from his injuries five days later.[7]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ferrante 2004, p.110
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "List of records established by the 'Savoia Marchetti S-64'"
  3. ↑ "Italian Air Record" p.420
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ferrante 2004, p.111
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 "The Rome–Brazil Non-Stop Flight", p.594
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ferrante 2004, p.112
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Ferrante 2004, p.113

References