- Mario Pezzi
Mario Pezzi (1898-1967) was an Italian
aviator known world-wide for his flight in which he achieved greater height than any other pilot in a propeller-poweredairplane .Biography
The future
lieutenant general was born November 9, 1898. He had one brother, Enrico, who also grew up to be aGeneral in theItalian Air Force . Mario joined theInfantry in October 1917, and the next year earned the rank ofsecond lieutenant . He received hispilot's license in 1926. The next year he became part of theGeneral Staff , rising to Cabinet of the Defense Ministry in 1931. After Pezzi's record flight, he was decorated with "Medal of Gold to the Aeronautical Value" and promotedColonel . Later he also becameCommander ofAeronautics as well asChief of the General Staff . From 1950-1955, Pezzi worked as Head of Cabinet of the Minister and, subsequently, General Secretary of Aeronautics.Record Flight
Pezzi reached supremacy above
Montecelio (Rome ) aboard aCaproni Ca.161 biplane with aPiaggio motor and watertight cabin, wearing a special diving apparatus [http://www.enricopezzi.it/fam_pezzi/mario_pezzi/images/MP_1937%20C161_01w.jpgpicture] and reaching a height of 17.044m (55.92ft). This record still stands today.In those years Americans, Germans, English and French fought for this record, and Italy entered the contest with 14.433m (47.35ft) in 1934 from Donates on his
Caproni Ca.113 with aPegaso motor.In 1936, l'inglese Swain achieved 15.230m (49.97ft) with a
Bristol 138 ; but in the same year Pezzi struck it with 15.635m (51.3ft) caught up to it aboard a Ca.161.In 1937, Englishman M.J. Adam in its turn exceeded it with 16.440m (53.94ft)to edge always of a Bristol 138.
On October 22 of the following year, Pezzi achieved his still-valid world record for propeller aircraft with a height of 17.044m (55.92ft).
Entered in aeronautics, Pezzi had followed the career of official pilot, and in 1934 he had been named commander of the unit for the record flight from Montecelio. He became an advanced official and received many decorations. In the post-war period he was general secretary of the Aeronautics and subsequently head of Cabinet of the Defense Ministry.
References
* [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.enricopezzi.it/fam_pezzi/mario_pezzi/biografia_mario_pezzi_01.htm&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=2&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmario%2Bpezzi%26hl%3Den/ Enrico Pezzi's Family Website]
*Italian Wikipedia
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