The field of aviation,
was where the greatest scientific and technical achievements of Portugal were held during the Republic. After the war, the Portuguese ventured on larger flights.
Gago Coutinho and Cabral Ball (1922) by Roland Carlos OliveiraNational Sports Museum - IPDJ
First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic
On June 17, 1922, Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral conclude the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic when arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, aboard the Fairey Hydroplane # 17 - baptized Santa Cruz.
Map: Aerial crossing Lisbon-Rio de Janeiro by the Portuguese Marine officers Gago Coutinho - Sacadura Cabral (1922)National Sports Museum - IPDJ
Departure...
Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral departed from Lisbon at 7am on March 30, 1922, aboard the Fairey III D MKLL - Baptized Lusitania - The first of three hydroplates of English origin, the Fairey brand, which would be used in this crossing.
Amazing snapshot of the airplane flying over the cliffs of S. Pedro and S. Paulo, today, from Gago Coutinho and Cabral Bagral, moments before the fall (1922) by Garcez RodriguesNational Sports Museum - IPDJ
This first hydroplane would eventually suffer an accident by loving with ripple, next to the San Pedro and Sao Paulo. A second hydroplane was sent, Fairey # 16 - baptized Pátria (homeland) - aboard Brazilian steam bagé, so they could resume his trip.
However, in the route between Fernão de Noronha and the Penedos, on May 4, the Pátria engine suffered a breakdown and the aviators were forced to amaze emergency.
In periodicals,
the journey is accompanied and all expired stages are concluded by sending aviators incentive and congratulating messages on behalf of all Portuguese.
The Portuguese Aviators in Aguas Brazileiras, on the cover of the newspaper Século n.º14:436 (1922-04-20)National Sports Museum - IPDJ
In the legend of photography (below) reads: «Popular manifestation, in front of our Rocio branch, an hour and a half from the morning of yesterday, when the mortar of the "century" that announced to the city the arrival of the "Lusitania" to the cliffs of St. Peter and S. Paulo»
The telegram from all over Portugal, on the cover of the newspaper O Seculo (1922-04-23)National Sports Museum - IPDJ
Radiotelogram of the "Portuguese" to aviators
«The right century that interprets the feeling of all the Portuguese people congratulate them for the firm resolution to complete the glorious journey to the capital of the great sister republica.»
«In fact is this the unanime desire of the nation full of jubilo by the route already held.»
Excelsior! The eternal day of eternal glory. Our heroes reach the end of their wonderful journey", on the cover of the newspaper o Século n.º14:494 (1922-06-18)National Sports Museum - IPDJ
Note of the Republic President, Antonio José d'Almeida:
«Aviators Gago Coutinho and Cabral Sacadura have fully established the moral unity of the nation»
... The arrival, 8 383 kilometers and 62 hours later!
In order to conclude this crossing, a third plane was sent, Fairey nº 17 - baptized Santa Cruz - aboard the warning of the Portuguese Navy Carvalho Araújo.
Poster Sacadura Cabral and Gago Coutinho (s/d)National Sports Museum - IPDJ
It was aboard that hydroplane that the two aviators arrived on 17 June 1922 to his destination, Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.
Portuguese heroes (s/d (1922?))National Sports Museum - IPDJ
They were received between celebrations and festivities of the local population, in recognition of the important achieved.
In the National Sport Library,
there are, among many others, some publications dedicated to aeronautical sports. Namely the report of the Lisbon Air Trip - Rio de Janeiro, published in 1922 by the Aero Club of Portugal.
(More about this book HERE)
(More about these and other titles HERE)
Universal Calendorario from Agência Constructora DOMUS, in homage to the Glorious Aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral. (s/d)National Sports Museum - IPDJ
A kalendorary?
In honor of the glorious aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral, Constructor Domus agency published a universal kalendorario, which serves to find the day of the week of either the seventeenth centuries to XX.
From airplane to Fox-Trot
Aerial crossing also inspired artists, such as illustrators or composers, such as Fox-Trot "Lusitania", Alberto Pimenta.
Lusitania one-step music sheet, by José Maria Navarro. (1922)National Sports Museum - IPDJ
Or the One-Step "Lusitania", by José Maria Navarro, dedicated to the heroes aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral, on a sheet of music edited by Sassetti & Cª. The drawing on the cover is signed Stuart Carvalhais.
And an inspiration ... clubs!
The Sport Club Lusitania is a club headquartered in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island, Azores. It was founded in 1922, receiving the name of the airplane "Lusitania", in honor of the transatlantic crossing of Gago Coutinho and Cabral Sacadura.
Transport ticket 50th anniversary of the First Crossing of the South Atlantic - Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral 1922-1972 (All rights reserved)National Sports Museum - IPDJ
In 1972, the Company of the Iron Carris in Lisbon (CFL) - which in this year celebrated its centenary - issued transportation tickets celebrating the fiftieth anniversay of the South Atlantic crossing.
Keep visiting
Finished the visit to the 5th part of the exposure dedicated to the years 1920. Have you visited the previous ones?
Part 1: History and Physical Education
Part 2: Sports Journals
Part 3: Associativism
Part 4: Portugal in the Olympics
Exhibition «Sports in Portugal in the 1920s - Part 6: Aviation»
Original Version - 2022
Curatoria and Contents: National Sports Museum
Note: The exhibition was developed based on the selection of museum's estate
