Francesco Agello
Francesco Agello (27 December 1902 – 26 November 1942) was an Italian test pilot.
Biography and flight achievements
Born at Casalpusterlengo, Lombardy, Agello graduated from pilot school in 1924 and soon became a test pilot. He was the fourth of four test pilots who tried to set a speed record with the Macchi M.C.72. However, one after the other, the test pilots ahead of Agello died (first Monti and then Bellini flying the M.C. 72, Neri died flying a CR-20 in 1933). Agello became famous when he succeeded in piloting the plane to a new speed record (over water) on 10 April 1933. He attained an average speed of 683 km/h (424 mph). More than a year later he flew the M.C. 72 to a new speed record of more than 700 km/h (709 km/h or 440 mph) on 23 October 1934. Both records, while obtained by seaplane also were absolute Flight airspeed record. No one has ever flown a piston-engine seaplane faster since that date.
Awards
He was awarded the De la Vaulx Medal twice for his speed records, once in 1933 and again in 1934.
Later career and death
In 1935 he joined the Italian government's airplane test center.
He died during World War II in an aircraft crash while testing the new Macchi C.202 at Bresso, near Milan. He was almost 40 years old.
The other flyer involved in the tragic mid-air collision was Guido Masiero, a fellow veteran of World War One. He was also killed.
Sources
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