FRANCESCO BRACK-PAPA
1891-1973
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa
This picture was taken in August/September 1919
at the ELTA Air Traffic Exhibition in Amsterdam.
Collection of Rob Mulder, 1-4-07
 

 
 
The following photos are taken from the books Cento aeroplani e un grande cuore (One hundred airplanes and a great heart) - Artioli Editore Milano - Modena 1969 and Gente dell'Aria 2 (People of air 2) - Editoriale Olimpia. The writer of the books is Giorgio Evangelisti.
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa - 5-1-31
Collection of Giovanni Giorgetti, 4-11-05
 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
via email from Giovanni Giorgetti, 4-11-05
      Pioneer of the Italian Air Force. He was born on September 4, 1891 in Corio {Turin - Italy).
      He was in France at the flying schools of Aberieu and Loyettes in the years 1909 and 1910.       He was granted his French Pilot's Licence, Number 988 and Italian 146, in August 11, 1912 for a biplane, in Buc (France).
      He came back to Italy for the draft and he returned again to France with other pilot cadets to the Farman School of Versailles (Paris) where he achieved the military pilot's licence on June 10, 1913. He was the first Italian military pilot.
      He accomplished the following records and raids:
      *      the Italian height record on July 19, 1913 (m 3.050) by Farman 12;
      *      the height record on 1915 (m 4.000);
      *      the height record with a passenger on 1916 (m 6.150);
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa with Corradino D'Ascanio
in a Savoia Pomilio - ca. 1917

Collection of Giovanni Giorgetti, 4-11-05
 
        *      the same record on 1917 {m. 6.750);  
 
Francesco Brack-Papa
 
 
Fiat B R - May 21, 1919
Height record with three passengers
Brack-Papa is in uniform with hands in his pockets.
Collection of Giovanni Giorgetti, 4-11-05
 
        *      the height record with three passengers on 1919 (m 7.250) by airplane
               FIAT B.R. 700 HP;
      *      the speed world record with a passenger {km 270 per hour) on 1919 by
               airplane FIAT B.R. 700 HP;
      *      Turin - Rome (2 hr. and 15 min.) on 1919;
      *      Rome - Paris non-stop flight with the Mont Blanc's crossing
               (km 1.300);
      *      Paris - London - Brussels -Amsterdam;
      *      the speed world record with four passengers (km 260 per hour) by
               airplane FIAT B.R. 700 HP;
      *      the Cup "Deutsch de la Meurthe" with speed world record of 100 km
               (300 km per hour) on 1921 ;
      *      the Cup Baracca on 1921 ;
      *      the Meeting of Nice on 1922;
      *      the Speed Match against Sadi Lecointe and the Silver Cup of the
               Aereo Club de la Còte d'Azur on 1922;
      *      Turin - Strasburg (two hours) with the Monte Rosa's crossing on 1922;
      *      The "Meeting d'Epinal" (France) organized by René Fonk on 1922;
      *      The Great Silver Cup of Aero Club des Vosges (France) on 1922;
      *      The speed race Epinal - Strasburg (France) on 1922;
      *      Strasburg - Milan (1 hr. and 50 min.) with the crossing of the Swiss
               Alps on 1922;
      *      the second at the Cup "Deutsch de la Meurthe on 1922;
      *      the speed world record (km 357 per hour) by airplane FIAT 800 HP on
               1922;
      *      the participation in the raid through France and Italy with the squadron
              of the French captain Madon by a patrol of B. R. airplanes on 1923;
      *      the participation in the raid Turin - Paris - Brussels - London - Paris -
      *      Turin with the squadron leader Arturo Ferrarin on 1925;
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa
 
 
The Cruise in Central Europe - 1928
Brack-Papa in command of Italo Balbo
Collection of Giovanni Giorgetti, 4-11-05
 
        *      the participation in the cruise Rome - London - Amsterdam - Berlin -
              Rome in command of Italo Balbo on 1928.
      He was decorated with a medal for military valour and with a gold medal for
      long navigation.
      He was an Air Force General. He was the Italian Air Force's head test pilot
      from 1930 to 1936.
      He died on January 12, 1973 in Turin.
 

 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa
 
 
FIGHTER, SCOUT AND BOMBER PLANES
TURIN - JOINT-STOCK COMPANY FOR AERONAUTICAL CONSTRUCTION ING.O.POMILIO & C.
"I found this poster for Pomilio aeroplanes.
The date is 1915. Francesco Brack-Papa flew in these aeroplanes."

Photo & text from Giovanni Giorgetti, 12-5;-06
 

 
 
ONLINE RESOURCES
     If you search for "Francesco Brack-Papa,", using the Google search engine, (1-15-05), you will find only one link.
 
 
Italy's Aeronautical Policy of the 1920's
(The Goodwill Tours)
     The website is primarily devoted to the story of Francesco Pinedo, but this page offers a comprehensive revue of the aeronautical policy. It includes a paragraph which mentions that Francesco Brack-Papa was the leader of the project. You can access the page by clicking on the title above.
     If time permits, I suggest that you visit the homepage by clicking on "HOME," which you will find on the left side of the page, and enjoy the fascinating story of Francesco Pinedo. For a quick review of his life and career, you can visit his page on my website by clicking on:
Francesco Pinedo.
 

 
;
 
RECOMMENDED READING
 
 
Cento Aeroplani
CENTO AEROPLANI
E U GRANDE CUORE

Hundred Airplanes
and a Big Heart
 
Giorgio Evangelisti.
 
Product Details
Cloth: 400 pages;
Used Price: € 80,00
Publisher: Artioli Editore Milano - Modena 1969
 
  Description: Valid on April 15, 2005
AV/0140 Evangelisti G. CENTO AEROPLANI E UN GRANDE CUORE. Milano/Modena, Artioli, 1969. In 4° (cm 28) 400 pp. Storia dell'aeronautica italiana attraverso le vicende di uno dei protagonisti: Mario Stopppani. Resoconti dei numerosi raid, la trasvolata atlantica, i primati, ecc. Documentato con centinaia di foto, cartine, fac-simili di documenti, 16 tavv. di dis. tecnici delle varie versioni del Cant Z dell'ing. Zappata, elenchi dei principali voli e records aviatori, vari indici. Preg. ediz., bel vol. t.tela orig. azzurra, tit. d., astuccio cart.orig. Ottimo.
€ 80,00
"AV/0140 Evangelisti G. ONE HUNDRED AIRPLANES And A GREAT HEART. Milano/Modena, Artioli, 1969. In 4° (cm 28) 400 pp. History of the Italian Air Force through the vicissitudes of one of the protagonists: Mario Stopppani. Reports of the numerous ones raid, the Atlantic trasvolata one, i supremacies, etc. Documented with hundred of photo, cartine, facsimiles of documents, 16 tavv. of dis. technical of the several versions of the Cant Z of the Ing. Hoed, it lists of the main flights and records air, vary indices. Preg. ediz., beautiful vol. t.tela orig.azzurra, tit. d., sheath cart.orig. Optimal.
€ 80,00"

from
BERGOGLIO
LIBRI D'EPOCA
TORINO
 

 
 
Gente dell'aria 2
GENTE dell'aria
2

People of Air
2
 
Giorgio Evangelisti.

 
Product Details
Hard: 288 pp. - 21x29.7;
List Price: € 36,15 - L.70.000; Cod; 515401
Publisher: Editoriale Olimpia.
 
  Description:
     You will find a complete description of the book, as well as a biography of the author, on the Editoriale Olimpia website. (4-15-05). If you read Italian, you can access the page by clicking on:
Gente dell'aria 2
 

 
 
 
 
Francesco Brack-Papa died on January 12, 1973 in Turin.
Personal communication from Giovanni Giorgetti, 4-11-05
 
If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator
please contact me.
E-mail to Ralph Cooper
 

 
 
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