Yesterday’s personalities: more information about Silvio Pettirossi’s life

Silvio Pettirossi

On June, 16, 1887, in Asuncion, Silvio was born of the Italian citizen Antino Pettirossi and the Paraguayan noblewoman Rufina Pereira Roldàn. He will become the biggest personality in Paraguayan air force. He was the third last son of the couple: he had three elder brothers and sisters (Alfredo, Elvira and Delia), and two younger sisters, Honorina and Luisa.

The pre-military lyceum in Spoleto (Italy) accepts Silvio when he is 7, as befits a scion of a noble Italo-American family. In 1901, when he is 14, Silvio comes back to Asuncion in order to continue his secondary school. In this period he has his first approach to flying: with some friends, he builds a do-it-yourself parachute and throw himself from a tree, getting many grazes and reproaches from his father, who opposes Silvio’s passion. In 1904 the revolution broke up, and Silvio, who is 17 only, enlists in the army, earning the second lieutenant’s stripes.

Starting as an abstract infatuation, flying becomes Silvio’s unique, real interest. His myths are the Wright brothers, Roland Garros and Louis Bleriot. He soon realizes that he had to go abroad to fulfil his dream. In those days the Argentine senator Benito Villanueva suggests him to go to Argentina to familiarize himself with the aeronautical techniques. Silvio works at the immigration office in Buenos Aires, where he meets the pioneers of Argentine Aviation and Jorge Newbery. Newbery is very impressed with Pettirossi’s love for flying, and confesses to him his presentiments: “You’ll be a great aviator”.

Pettirossi works to convince the Paraguayan authorities that a local flying school is necessary. Despite his father’s contrariety, he get some famous politicians and ranks’ confidence, and they intercede for Pettirossi with the President of the Republic, Don Edoardo Schaerer, so that the government can pay for his studies in France. In 1912, finally, Pettirossi’s father resigns himself to concede his crucial financial support.

Pettirossi leave for France and enrolls himself at Deperdussin Aviation School in Reims, and after 17 lessons of “dual control” he make his first solo flight. On Januarys 17, 1913, he presents himself for the examinations. It is the final step to the coveted pilot’s certificate issued by the International Aeronautical Federation. Two months later he gets his certificate and ranks first in the 40 officials of the French Armed Forces. As a reward for his enthusiasm, the Paraguayan Premier issues a decree to appoint him first lieutenant in charge of the Army.

For six months, he visits some aviation fields in Italy, and then he comes back to France. Thanks to his aviation gifts, Pettirossi is now famous all over Europe and America. In 1913 he flies on Deperdussin monoplanes all over France and during a flight he stays in the air for 8 hours, breaking the world record.

The French press baptizes him “King of the Air”, and Pettirossi win over the most famous pilots’ esteem and friendship: Garros, Vedrine, Vidart and Peguod. Only a few months after getting his pilot certificate, Pettirossi shakes the aeronautical French world: he asks to the local aeronautical authority’s jury to recognize his acrobatics in front of the public. An excited crowd comes to watch at him: on his Deperdussin monoplane, Pettirossi begins his extraordinary demonstration: 37 loops, followed by some inverted loops, barrel tonneau, low upside down flights, nose-diving: the public is terrified. After landing, the triumph. Other technical, skill and courage demonstrations followed.

In March 1914, Pettirossi boards a steamship with his Deperdussin “T” towards Buenos Aires. His faithful mechanic Maurice Becquet, who was recruited for giving technical support to the plane, accompanies him. When they get to Buenos Aires, Pettirossi and Becquet reassemble the plane and prepare some demonstrative flights. In front of a huge crowd, Pettirossi replicates all the acrobatics he made in France: more than 50.000 people gape at “Pettirossi’s madness”.

Pettirossi is now famous in both North and South America, and with his Deperdussin “T” he succeeds in some exercises that were unthinkable for that period: a take off in 390 meters only, a 50 degrees vertical attack turn, wings stabilization, a short recovery nose up, loops, barrel tonneau. Pettirossi passes from an acrobatics to another naturally, at an altitude between 30 and 300 meters.

Pettirossi goes to Brazil. Then to Montevideo. Here too he flies in front a numerous audience, finding the time for courting Sara Usher Conde, a lady of the high society. In Santiago he has his first accident but he escapes nearly unhurt: during a take off, his plane crashes into the field’s fence, and the motor brakes. Pettirossi escapes nearly unhurt and, three days later, after his faithful Becquet has repaired the plane, the big aeronautical show starts again. The Chile people and highest authorities are enthusiast and name him “Bird Man”.

Then he comes back to Argentina and Paraguay, but South America is now too small for him. After a stop in Montevideo, where he marries Sara Usher Conde, he boards to the United States together with his airplane. In various extraordinary performances, the “King of the Air” proves to deserve all the titles that the press gave him. His exorbitant fame arise his rivals’ envy in the “circus of the air”. During an acrobatics, his wings brakes and the plane crashes into the sea, but a fishing boat rescues him. From then on, he becomes suspicious, circumspect, prudent.

Nevertheless, his spirit is intact. Unfortunately, on October 17, 1916, during an acrobatics with his faithful Deperdussin “T”, a voltage cable brakes and the plane crashes down. Pettirossi dies suddenly. He is 29 only. The most gifted, courageous, inventive and famous promoter of the rising South American aviation disappears.

Texts and pictures from:
www.aerei-italiani.net
www.laahs.com
www.earlyaviators.com