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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 />

The P52 had <strong>the</strong> chance of getting a good placing at <strong>the</strong> <strong>com</strong>petition. The power was of only 85 hp and transported 3<br />

persons at nearly 240 Km/h. Many <strong>com</strong>petitors thought we would win but Caracciolo did not intend to go at full<br />

speed. Gino and I were anxious and were trying to convince him. The night at <strong>the</strong> hotel <strong>the</strong>y <strong>com</strong>municated us <strong>the</strong><br />

starting order and <strong>the</strong> P52 was inserted as <strong>the</strong> favorite between <strong>the</strong> first ten. After dinner at <strong>the</strong> hotel, we prepared <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>com</strong>petition schedule with all <strong>the</strong> stops, kilometers and time expected. The departure was at 7.30 so we had to be<br />

<strong>the</strong>re at <strong>the</strong> airport by 6.30. All <strong>the</strong> aircrafts were already lining up on <strong>the</strong> airfield according to <strong>the</strong> starting order.<br />

I sat down at <strong>the</strong> back while Gino and Caracciolo were at <strong>the</strong> piloting seats. We took of quite rapidly and pointed<br />

directly on Trapani. Unfortunately what we feared happened punctually. The Caracciolo’s <strong>com</strong>petition behavior was<br />

a tourism one. We reached an astronomic height of 800/1000 m while all <strong>the</strong> <strong>com</strong>petitors were flying low. The<br />

engine turns did not go over 2450 as a cruise speed while we should have gone at full speed as 2750. Gino and I were<br />

impatient and were exchanging looks of disapproval. Fortunately all <strong>the</strong> winning posts sighted us, merits of<br />

Caracciolo, very good navigator, so we did not get any penalization. We arrived in Catania among <strong>the</strong> first 10, but<br />

unfortunately our winning dreams were vanished. On <strong>the</strong> second stop things did not go better, <strong>the</strong> engine was not at<br />

full speed. Gino shielded himself with <strong>the</strong> schedule <strong>com</strong>petition and tried to push <strong>the</strong> speed with a pencil but<br />

Caracciolo got angry saying that he was <strong>the</strong> pilot and that <strong>the</strong>y had to go like that. Next to Boccadifalco, some<br />

aircrafts overtook us; <strong>the</strong>re was nothing to do anymore. Between us and Caracciolo <strong>the</strong>re was some tension. The<br />

back flight was fine but it was hard to convince him to leave <strong>from</strong> Palermo. In fact he was convinced that we were<br />

too heavy for <strong>the</strong> take off. Absurd thing, in fact we took off in a small space. We arrived in Naples in <strong>the</strong> afternoon<br />

not in a good mood.<br />

With <strong>the</strong> Tigrotto P52, <strong>the</strong> name PARTENAVIA was born which was meaning Aviazione Partenopea. It was marked<br />

on <strong>the</strong> right side of <strong>the</strong> fuselage with a nice white sign on red base. We could not imagine how many aircrafts would<br />

have had this name in <strong>the</strong> entire world.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> following days we worked for <strong>the</strong> setting up of <strong>the</strong> P52, we checked <strong>the</strong> different installations and assembled<br />

for <strong>the</strong> first time a radio VHF, achieved by Riccardo Bonomo. Riccardo, our old friend, model aircraft enthusiast<br />

expert, devoted himself to electronic and had built for us this little jewel with four channels that was working<br />

perfectly. Then Bonomo, great person, formed <strong>the</strong> <strong>com</strong>pany Avioradio that used to build <strong>the</strong>se machineries that we<br />

set on many aircrafts Partenavia.<br />

The 12 th of June, Gino and Caracciolo left with <strong>the</strong> P52 for Rimini to participate at <strong>the</strong> Riviera di Rimini Prize. The<br />

P52 was admired by everyone but due to <strong>the</strong> bad wea<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> <strong>com</strong>petition could not be done.<br />

The <strong>com</strong>petition schedule was by now very packed so as soon as back <strong>the</strong> aircraft was immediately prepared to<br />

participate at <strong>the</strong> III Venice International Aeronautical Exhibition. The P52 piloted by Caracciolo and Gino left <strong>the</strong><br />

25 th of July (1953) for Venice, San Nicolò Venezia Lido Airport.<br />

The aircrafts lined up were around fifty. Our Tigrotto was <strong>the</strong> absolute novelty, lined up between a Piper and a Fiat<br />

G46; it was cutting a fine figure. Easy, elegant, red varnished, it was attracting all <strong>the</strong> visitors, also foreigners. The<br />

demonstration lasted seven days with different flight trials, all very admired. They were hosted at <strong>the</strong> Hotel De Bains<br />

where <strong>the</strong> last night a luxurious reception closed <strong>the</strong> demonstration.<br />

The presence of <strong>the</strong> Tigrotto in Venice had a lot of success in <strong>the</strong> international press. The mane Partenavia started to<br />

get known. We were continuously getting photos and drawing’s requests of <strong>the</strong> P52 <strong>from</strong> many different specialized<br />

magazines.<br />

In those days we received an official invitation <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Italia Aero Club to participate to <strong>the</strong> <strong>com</strong>petition for a<br />

schooling aircraft for <strong>the</strong> Italians Club. For <strong>the</strong> first time we had been invited as <strong>com</strong>pany Partenavia to participate<br />

with o<strong>the</strong>rs to a national <strong>com</strong>petition. The news excited us very much and we started immediately <strong>the</strong> preparations to<br />

move <strong>the</strong> aircraft within one month to <strong>the</strong> Guidonia airport where it had to be evaluated by <strong>the</strong> experimental center<br />

pilots. We made some tuning up works, substituted some instruments, and modified <strong>the</strong> seats to hold <strong>the</strong> parachute<br />

requested by <strong>the</strong> soldiers.<br />

The P52 left <strong>from</strong> Capodichino to Guidonia with Caracciolo and Gino. Landed in Guidonia, Caracciolo, ex military<br />

pilot, had a cordial wel<strong>com</strong>ing <strong>from</strong> soldiers, friends of his.<br />

We had to leave <strong>the</strong> aircraft in Guidonia for 15 days. The soldiers were requesting <strong>the</strong> assistance <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

constructing <strong>com</strong>pany, so I had to go to Guidonia each time to make <strong>the</strong> checks on <strong>the</strong> aircraft. I was leaving early in<br />

<strong>the</strong> morning <strong>from</strong> Naples to Rome where I found <strong>the</strong> coincidence to Guidonia. I used to stay at <strong>the</strong> airport for <strong>the</strong><br />

whole day, eating a sandwich at <strong>the</strong> soldier’s cookhouse, and at night I returned to Naples. It was a sacrifice I did<br />

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