Comments on: Balbo Plans Daring Non-Stop World Flight (Dec, 1933)

By: John

John — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:22:43 +0000

Rose D’Ascenzo: Yeah, we’ll get right on that.

By: Rose D'Ascenzo

Rose D'Ascenzo — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:21:26 +0000

My grandmother’s brother was on the 1933 flight Chicago, please e-mail any information.

By: Firebrand38

Firebrand38 — Tue, 04 May 2010 01:52:36 +0000

#1 Balbo’s success was flying to the Chicago Exposition. FDR awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross and there is still a Balbo Avenue in Chicago to commemorate the event http://maps.google.com/maps?hl.....CAcQ8gEwAA

#2 No he didn’t go around the world using relays of aircraft carrying dirigibles.

#4 Not that I can see. The only two flights listed for him were transatlantic
http://books.google.com/books?.....38;f=false

http://books.google.com/books?.....38;f=false

#5 Because he didn’t make one

By: Bayard

Bayard — Tue, 04 May 2010 01:36:28 +0000

According to Wikipedia “In 1949, The Lucky Lady II, a B-50A of the U. S. Air Force, commanded by Captain James Gallagher, became the first airplane to circle the world nonstop. This was achieved by refueling the plane in flight.” No mention is made of a non-stop flight by Balbo.

By: John Savard

John Savard — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:11:41 +0000

The Wikipedia article mentions a transatlantic flight, but it also mentions the round-the-world one as well.

By: Chris Radcliff

Chris Radcliff — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:56:08 +0000

Looks like that 1933 flight was transatlantic, not around-the-world, according to Wikipedia::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italo_Balbo#Aviator

It also says the flight had seven legs, which implies landing instead of in-air refueling. Still successful, but not as ambitious as this article predicted.

By: John Savard

John Savard — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:05:06 +0000

The article inspired me to look up the Wikipedia article to find out more about this feat. Indeed, it was successful, but, sadly, he was deeply involved in the Fascist movement. He died at Tobruk from friendly fire.

By: Jeffk

Jeffk — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:13:16 +0000

Mussolini gave Chicago an ancient Roman column to commemorate Balbo’s success.

The dedication year is inscribed on the (not ancient) base as, “eleventh year of the fascist era”!

http://www.ostia-antica.org/past/chicago.htm