Mario Pezzi (aviator)
Mario Pezzi | |
|---|---|
| File:Mario Pezzi pressure suit.jpg Mario Pezzi wearing his high-altitude pressure suit | |
| Born | November 9, 1898 Italy |
| Died | August 26, 1968 (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Aviator, military officer |
| Known for | Setting the highest altitude record for a propeller-driven airplane |
Mario Pezzi (9 November 1898 – 26 August 1968) was an Italian aviator internationally recognized for setting the highest altitude record ever achieved by a pilot in a propeller-driven airplane.[1][2]
Biography
Born on 9 November 1898, Pezzi had a brother named Enrico, who also rose to the rank of general within the Italian Air Force. Mario began his military career by enlisting in the Infantry in October 1917 and was promoted to second lieutenant the following year. He obtained his pilot's license in 1926 and, a year later, joined the General Staff, eventually advancing to a position within the Defense Ministry’s Cabinet by 1931.
Following his record-setting flight, Pezzi was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal of Aeronautic Valor and elevated to the rank of colonel. He later served as commander of Aeronautics and held the position of Chief of the General Staff. Between 1950 and 1955, he fulfilled duties as Head of Cabinet for the Minister and subsequently as General Secretary of Aeronautics.
Pezzi is regarded as a pioneer in Italian aeronautics and astronautics, not only due to his altitude achievements but also for selecting Luigi Broglio to lead the ITAF Ammunition Research Unit—a division focused on rocket and missile development that paved the way for Italy’s future space endeavors. Broglio recalled their encounter: "In 1956, ITAF's secretary-general Pezzi, renowned for his altitude flight records, invited me to replace the officer overseeing the Ammunition Research Unit, which handled rockets and missiles. I replied that my expertise was in aircraft, not rockets. Pezzi asked me to name someone qualified; when I could not, he concluded, 'Then the job is yours.'"
Record Flight
Pezzi set his altitude record over Montecelio (Rome) piloting a Caproni Ca.161 biplane equipped with a Piaggio engine and an airtight pressurized cabin. Wearing a specialized pressure suit picture, he reached an altitude of 17,083 m (56,047 ft), a record that remains unbroken.
On 8 May 1937, Pezzi departed from Guidonia-Montecelio flying a Caproni Ca.161 powered by a 14-cylinder double stellar engine with a twin centrifugal supercharger delivering 750 hp.[3] During this mission, he ascended to 15,655 m (51,362 ft), outfitted with an electrically heated pressurized suit and sealed helmet resembling those used by modern astronauts. Meanwhile, engineers at Caproni developed an improved version—the Ca.161bis—designed by Verduzio featuring an enclosed cockpit within an airtight shell—the first of its kind in aviation history. This advancement bore fruit on 22 October 1938 when Pezzi surpassed previous limits by reaching 17,083 m (56,047 ft), establishing a world altitude record for piston-driven propeller aircraft that still stands today.
During this era, several nations including the United States, Germany, England, and France vied for altitude supremacy. Italy entered this competition with a record of 14,433 m (47,355 ft) set in 1934 at Donates flying a Caproni Ca.113 powered by a Pegaso engine.
In 1936, English aviator Francis Ronald Swain reached 15,230 m (49,970 ft) aboard a Bristol 138, only for Pezzi to exceed it later that year with a climb to 15,635 m (51,300 ft) in his Ca.161.
The following year saw Englishman M.J. Adam reclaiming the record at 16,440 m (53,940 ft) also using a Bristol 138.
However, on 22 October 1938 Pezzi reclaimed and extended this achievement with his enduring world altitude record of 17,083 m (56,046.6 feet) for propeller-powered aircraft.[4]
Beginning his career as an aviator at a young age, Pezzi was appointed commander of the Montecelio record flight unit in 1934. He advanced through military ranks while receiving numerous honors. After World War II, he held influential roles including general secretary of Aeronautics and head of Cabinet at the Defense Ministry.
References
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 159: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).