Fratelli Pascale Story: from the 30s onward - Tecnam.com
Fratelli Pascale Story: from the 30s onward - Tecnam.com
Fratelli Pascale Story: from the 30s onward - Tecnam.com
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<strong>Fratelli</strong> <strong>Pascale</strong> <strong>Story</strong>: <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>30s</strong> <strong>onward</strong><br />
polished <strong>the</strong> airplane to make him look as much as possible bright and smooth; we streamlined better <strong>the</strong> air intake of<br />
<strong>the</strong> carburetter push <strong>the</strong> engine to <strong>the</strong> limit. In a few days everything was ready for <strong>the</strong> departure. At nine we landed<br />
<strong>from</strong> Capodichino heading towards Reggio Calabria. The sky was clear, <strong>the</strong> wind was calm, <strong>the</strong> little Astore was<br />
flying fast and secure. Every 15 minutes I pumped <strong>the</strong> gasoline in <strong>the</strong> main tank and I checked continuously <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>com</strong>mands for <strong>the</strong> oil and <strong>the</strong> cylinders temperature. The engine worked well even if sometimes some sparking plugs<br />
failed. It was an old engine ARAR and we couldn’t pretend more. After 2 hours we landed at <strong>the</strong> Reggio Calabria<br />
airport on a grassy runway and this also has been a tough testing for <strong>the</strong> Astore. We ate a sandwich, we filled <strong>the</strong><br />
tank with gasoline and we landed quickly to Palermo, having to be <strong>the</strong>re, according to regulations before 2 o’clock at<br />
<strong>the</strong> Boccadifalco airport. We took off <strong>from</strong> Reggio on that terrible runway with jerks and fearful shakings and we<br />
headed to Sicily, crossing <strong>the</strong> Stretto during a strong turbulence. The plane reacted well, always ready to <strong>the</strong> pilot’s<br />
changes. After an hour and 30 minutes of flight, enchanted by <strong>the</strong> spectacular Sicilian landscape we landed at<br />
Boccadifalco, this time on a cement runway smooth and dressed. As soon as we parked <strong>the</strong> plane and stopped <strong>the</strong><br />
propeller, many curious people came by to admire <strong>the</strong> new Italian airplane made in Naples.<br />
The airport was <strong>com</strong>pletely crowded with planes, drew up in 3 lines; a great <strong>com</strong>ing and going of mechanic pilots<br />
were preparing <strong>the</strong> planes for <strong>the</strong> departure of <strong>the</strong> first lap planned for <strong>the</strong> next morning. The Captain Beppe<br />
Albanese, president of <strong>the</strong> Palermo Aero Club and animator and organizer of <strong>the</strong> race, wel<strong>com</strong>ed us. We went<br />
toge<strong>the</strong>r to <strong>the</strong> reception for <strong>the</strong> <strong>com</strong>petitors, were we received all that we needed. Once <strong>the</strong> plane was set on <strong>the</strong> first<br />
line of departure we refueled <strong>the</strong> cap, we checked <strong>the</strong> oil, <strong>the</strong> sparking plugs, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r parts of <strong>the</strong> engine and we<br />
also did an accurate inspection of <strong>the</strong> plane. We <strong>the</strong>n went to <strong>the</strong> Grand Hotel Delle Palme were we got settled<br />
arriving just in time for <strong>the</strong> debrief of <strong>the</strong> pilots leaving for <strong>the</strong> first lap. After all <strong>the</strong> advices and explanations about<br />
<strong>the</strong> route to follow we were ordered to leave and with great astonishment I discovered that we were <strong>the</strong> first to leave<br />
<strong>from</strong> Boccadifalco a 7.00 a.m.<br />
At night we had dinner in <strong>the</strong> big dining room. In our table we were sitting with <strong>the</strong> French team made up by a<br />
gorgeous lady and two very nice gentlemen. We became friends immediately; <strong>the</strong>y were flying on a Norecrin 250.<br />
The lady whose name was Susanne was a pilot, she was sitting on my right hand and was speaking with great<br />
moderation.<br />
Since I was tired and tense I didn’t sleep very much. At 6.00 o’clock I was already awake, after a quick breakfast we<br />
took <strong>the</strong> bus for <strong>the</strong> airport where we arrived 15 minutes before <strong>the</strong> departure. The field was very animated, all <strong>the</strong><br />
pilots and <strong>com</strong>petitors were next to <strong>the</strong> planes to finish <strong>the</strong> operations of refueling and check. I did an inspection to<br />
<strong>the</strong> engine, I checked <strong>the</strong> oil and <strong>the</strong> gasoline, and I did one last polish to <strong>the</strong> windscreen, to <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong> wing and<br />
to <strong>the</strong> propeller.<br />
While I was concentrated on doing this last operation, <strong>the</strong> jeep of <strong>the</strong> race director came running announcing us <strong>the</strong><br />
start for <strong>the</strong> departure. Caracciolo went up quickly on <strong>the</strong> plane while I was on <strong>the</strong> ground, preparing <strong>the</strong> propeller<br />
launch, two pushes back, contact, pushing and <strong>the</strong> roar of <strong>the</strong> engine that reassured me. I turned in <strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong><br />
strut, I went on board, and I closed <strong>the</strong> door and go <strong>the</strong> plane moved on <strong>the</strong> runway head. An aircraftman with <strong>the</strong><br />
flag made a sign: quick, quick, only two minutes are missing. Caracciolo speeded up on <strong>the</strong> runway head where <strong>the</strong><br />
jury was lined up. The timekeeper approached with his stopwatch and alerted us, less than 10 seconds. Time never<br />
ended, he raised <strong>the</strong> flag, and with his hand he did 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, go. At full speed, <strong>the</strong> aircraft taxied fast heading<br />
towards Trapani.<br />
Once we went over Trapani we pointed to Marsala, <strong>the</strong> second check point to overfly. The aircraft was working<br />
properly, <strong>the</strong> air was calm and <strong>the</strong> engine’s roar was continuous and reassuring. I was helping Caracciolo for <strong>the</strong><br />
route, following <strong>the</strong> direction on <strong>the</strong> navigation map and taking <strong>the</strong> time on every check point. Over flying Marsala<br />
we clearly recognized <strong>the</strong> white cross on <strong>the</strong> ground and <strong>the</strong>n aimed on Comiso. Unfortunately we could not see <strong>the</strong><br />
little airport. Thus we were forced to make two turns on <strong>the</strong> area while I constantly scanned <strong>the</strong> ground without<br />
seeing any recognition signal. Caracciolo decided <strong>the</strong>n to go on Catania hoping that someone would have signaled<br />
us. Once we got over <strong>the</strong> slight slope with <strong>the</strong> engine at full speed, we came out to <strong>the</strong> sea aiming on <strong>the</strong> Fontana<br />
Rossa airport in Catania. We were almost a few kilometers <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> arrival when <strong>the</strong> piper of Goemans overtook us<br />
and a few minutes later also <strong>the</strong> Rondone of Guagnellini did it. Caracciolo fully speeded with <strong>the</strong> plane slightly<br />
diving taking advantage <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> altitude that we still had. I checked <strong>the</strong> level of <strong>the</strong> front tank: <strong>the</strong> televel marked<br />
almost zero so I started pumping <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> extra tank to re-establish <strong>the</strong> necessary level. The engine at full speed<br />
burned a lot so that I was obliged to continuously check <strong>the</strong> televel of <strong>the</strong> tanks. A French plane overtook us close to<br />
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