INVITATION FROM THE EMBASSY OF PERU

[Luis]

Hallo friends

I am posting this note here because Flight Related Topics is the one we really read.......... :

I want to invite all pilots to a celebration that we are going to have here at the Embassy of Peru this coming October 27, at 7:00 PM

It the 100 Anniversary of the First Crossing of the Alps (yes, I said Alps not Andes), that was achieved by the Peruvian pilot Jorge Chavez Dartnell flying from Briga in Switzerland to Domodossola in Italy on September 23, 1910. He was flying a French Bleriot

There will be a lecture, a video screening, we will present a nice coffee table book specially written for the anniversary, recently discovered photos of Jorge Chavez and some paintings about him.

After the event we will have a cocktail with Peruvian traditional Pisco Sour. If you already know Pisco Sour I know you will come for some more, and if you don’t it is a good chance to taste it!

It will be a nice time to get together and have some fun

Best

Luis

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The Embassy of Peru is pleased to invite you
to the Presentation of the Book:

Jorge Chávez
Centenary of the Heroic Feat of the
Crossing of the Alps
(1910-2010)







Wednesday,
October 27, 2010

7:00 - 8:30 PM


EMBASSY OF PERU

1700 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036

(Map Location)

Street parking is available on Massachussets Avenue and 17th Street from 6:30 pm.



In commemoration of the centenary of the first crossing of the Alps by the illustrious peruvian aviator Jorge Chávez Dartnell, the Embassy of Peru will present this book written by the Peruvian Air Force Major General (retired) Óscar Gregorio Gagliardi Kindlimannen.

The book narrates the life of this pioneer of world aviation, contains unpublished photos, and covers topics ranging from his childhood to his death and funeral. It was published in February 2010, by the Peruvian University "Alas Peruanas" in four languages: Spanish, Italian, French, and English.

The author will present his work in Spanish, and his son Mr. Óscar Gagliardi Corpancho, will offer a supplementary lecture in English about the documentary and the webpage dedicated to the distinguished aviator.

* The Air Force Major General Óscar Gregorio Gagliardi Kindlimannen (retired) acted as the Director of the Air War College, Director of Intelligence, Air Attaché to the OAS and Delegate of Peru to the Inter-American Defense Board. He is the author of textbooks, articles, research projects and member of the Institute of Historical Aerospace Studies of Peru as well as the Academy of Aeronautical History of Peru, amongst others.

* Mr. Óscar Gagliardi Corpancho is a graduate of the University of Baltimore. He works as a web developer for a company in Maryland that develops projects for companies and institutions like NASA, the Senate, Marriott International, amongst others. He is a member of the Institute of Historical Aerospatial Studies of Peru and the Academy of Aeronautical History of Peru.






Please RSVP Now!





Free entrance.

For more information about Jorge Chávez Dartnell and his extraordinary achievement, please consult the website: http://www.jorgechavezdartnell.com

[mcelrah]

This was an interesting event - and the back story about Jorge Chavez is also fascinating. It's hard to imagine how primitive aviation was in 1910 and how fast it was developing. The Wright brothers were still working out things with hang-gliders (in October 1911 Orville returned to Kitty Hawk and flew the glider for a record 9 minutes 45 seconds - stay tuned for info about a big commemoration there next year - USHPA board/members meeting too). They had begun training U.S. Army pilots at College Park in 1906. Most planes were biplanes, with cross-bracing between the wings to form a sort of box girder. The expatriate Peruvian pilot Chavez only started his training in early 1910 in France, quickly progressed to competitions all over Europe in which he excelled at altitude records (4-500 meters). That summer, he switched to a lightweight Bleriot monoplane, which featured a bunch of guy wires top and bottom - sorta like a hang-glider! In this he flew higher, ever higher - demonstrating that the greater wing area of the biplanes was not the only way to get good climb performance. The Bleriot had performance and construction specs not so different from a current "trike" or powered hang-glider: 50 horsepower, empty weight 185 kilos. It was an extremely lightweight craft to attempt a crossing of an Alpine pass, which is what Chavez first tried at the Simplon pass on 19 September 1910. He was forced to turn back due to turbulence, but after reconnoitering the route from the ground, he tried again on the 23rd. During this successful flight he again encountered turbulence that exceeded his control authority in maintaining level flight. He achieved 2600 meters altitude, a massive gain that was over four times his previous record. (I suppose he must have employed ridge lift to augment the meager climb performance of the Bleriot.) Arriving at goal in front of a cheering crowd, Chavez was on final with only 20 meters' altitude when the wing collapsed, probably from being over-stressed during the turbulent crossing. He was severely injured and ultimately died four days later.

Jorge Chavez is honored as the father of Peruvian aviation. His remains were moved to the Peruvian Air Force Academy (just like we have John Paul Jones remains in the Naval Academy chapel.). His dying words were "arriba - sempre arriba" ("higher, ever higher") and are the basis for the Peruvian Air Force hymn. At the event last night, a bunch of senior Peruvian airmen spontaneously burst into song - there seem to be several verses, which they all know by heart several decades after graduating from the academy.

- Hugh