Mario Pezzi
Encyclopedia
Mario Pezzi was an Italian aviator
known worldwide for his flight in which he achieved greater height than any other pilot in a propeller-powered airplane.
was born November 9, 1898. He had one brother, Enrico, who also grew up to be a General
in the Italian Air Force
. Mario joined the Infantry
in October 1917, and the next year earned the rank of second lieutenant
. He received his pilot's license in 1926. The next year he became part of the General 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 promoted Colonel
. Later he also became Commander
of Aeronautics
as well as Chief of the General Staff. From 1950-1955, Pezzi worked as Head of Cabinet of the Minister and, subsequently, General Secretary of Aeronautics.
Broglio himself described that meeting with Pezzi: "In 1956, secretary-general of ITAF Pezzi, the man famous for his altitude flight records, asked me to replace the officer responsible for the ITAF Ammunition Research Unit, a branch of the Service dealing with rockets and missiles too. I answered that it was not my field, my field being airplanes, not rockets. Pezzi objected: "Then give me the name of some top brass who is expert in that field". I answered again no, I did not know anyone with such a capability. "Well, then the post is yours" was Pezzi's conclusion.
) aboard a Caproni Ca.161
biplane
with a Piaggio
motor and watertight cabin, wearing a special diving apparatus picture and reaching a height of 17,083 m (56,047 ft). This record still stands today.
On May 7, 1937, Maj. Mario Pezzi took off from the Guidonia-Montecelio base on a Caproni Ca161 aircraft powered by a 14 cyl. double stellar engine supercharged by a double centrifugal 750 hp compressor. Piloting this aircraft he climbed to 15,655 mt (25,000 ft). Pezzi wore a special electrically heated pressurized suit and an airtight helmet, just like a modern astronaut. In the Caproni hangars in the meantime work went on ceaselessly to produce a new version of the aircraft, the Ca161bis designed by engineer Verduzio. Its cockpit embedded an air-tight shell, the first one to be built in the history of flight. The great expectations on this machine were soon fulfilled: on October 22, 1938, Pezzi attained a new world record of altitude in a propeller-driven, piston-engined aircraft (17,083 mt, 51,000 ft), record still unbeaten today. Pezzi is rightly considered an aeronautics and astronautics pioneer in Italy not only for his altitude records: he was the man who chose Luigi Broglio
to lead the ITAF Ammunition Research Unit, responsible for rockets and missiles research, leading the way to future space exploration in Italy
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 a Pegaso
motor.
In 1936, l'inglese Swain achieved 15,230m (49,970ft) with a Bristol 138; but in the same year Pezzi struck it with 15,635m (51,300ft) caught up to it aboard a Ca.161.
In 1937, Englishman M.J. Adam in its turn exceeded it with 16,440m (53,940ft) 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 17,083m (55,920ft).
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.
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
known worldwide for his flight in which he achieved greater height than any other pilot in a propeller-powered airplane.
Biography
The future lieutenant generalLieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
was born November 9, 1898. He had one brother, Enrico, who also grew up to be a General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
in the Italian Air Force
Italian Air Force
The Italian Air Force has gone under different names in different periods:*Regia Aeronautica , from 1923 to June 1946*Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II...
. Mario joined the Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
in October 1917, and the next year earned the rank of second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. He received his pilot's license in 1926. The next year he became part of the General Staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
, 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 promoted Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. Later he also became Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of Aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
as well as Chief of the General Staff. From 1950-1955, Pezzi worked as Head of Cabinet of the Minister and, subsequently, General Secretary of Aeronautics.
Broglio himself described that meeting with Pezzi: "In 1956, secretary-general of ITAF Pezzi, the man famous for his altitude flight records, asked me to replace the officer responsible for the ITAF Ammunition Research Unit, a branch of the Service dealing with rockets and missiles too. I answered that it was not my field, my field being airplanes, not rockets. Pezzi objected: "Then give me the name of some top brass who is expert in that field". I answered again no, I did not know anyone with such a capability. "Well, then the post is yours" was Pezzi's conclusion.
Record Flight
Pezzi reached supremacy above Montecelio (RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
) aboard a Caproni Ca.161
Caproni Ca.161
|-See also:...
biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
with a Piaggio
Piaggio
Piaggio based in Pontedera, Italy encompasses seven brands of scooters, motorcycles and compact commercial vehicles. As the fourth largest producer of scooters and motorcycles in the world, Piaggio produces more than 600,000 vehicles annually, with five research and development centers, more than...
motor and watertight cabin, wearing a special diving apparatus picture and reaching a height of 17,083 m (56,047 ft). This record still stands today.
On May 7, 1937, Maj. Mario Pezzi took off from the Guidonia-Montecelio base on a Caproni Ca161 aircraft powered by a 14 cyl. double stellar engine supercharged by a double centrifugal 750 hp compressor. Piloting this aircraft he climbed to 15,655 mt (25,000 ft). Pezzi wore a special electrically heated pressurized suit and an airtight helmet, just like a modern astronaut. In the Caproni hangars in the meantime work went on ceaselessly to produce a new version of the aircraft, the Ca161bis designed by engineer Verduzio. Its cockpit embedded an air-tight shell, the first one to be built in the history of flight. The great expectations on this machine were soon fulfilled: on October 22, 1938, Pezzi attained a new world record of altitude in a propeller-driven, piston-engined aircraft (17,083 mt, 51,000 ft), record still unbeaten today. Pezzi is rightly considered an aeronautics and astronautics pioneer in Italy not only for his altitude records: he was the man who chose Luigi Broglio
Luigi Broglio
Luigi Broglio , was an Italian aerospace engineer, airforce lieutenant colonel and dean of the school of aeronautical engineering at the University of Rome La Sapienza...
to lead the ITAF Ammunition Research Unit, responsible for rockets and missiles research, leading the way to future space exploration in Italy
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
Caproni Ca.113
|-See also:...
with a Pegaso
Pegaso
Pegaso was a Spanish make of trucks, omnibuses, tractors, armored vehicles, and, for a while, sports cars. The parent company, Enasa, was created in 1946 and based in the old Hispano-Suiza factory, under the direction of the renowned automotive engineer Wifredo Ricart...
motor.
In 1936, l'inglese Swain achieved 15,230m (49,970ft) with a Bristol 138; but in the same year Pezzi struck it with 15,635m (51,300ft) caught up to it aboard a Ca.161.
In 1937, Englishman M.J. Adam in its turn exceeded it with 16,440m (53,940ft) 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 17,083m (55,920ft).
Entered in aeronautics, Pezzi had followed the career of official pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, 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.