| Mario de Bernardi | |
 Memorial plaque on his house, in Via Panama, Rome
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| Born | 1 July 1893 Venosa, Italy |
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| Died | 8 April 1959 Rome, Italy |
| Occupation | World War I fighter pilot Air racer Test pilot |
Mario de Bernardi (1893 - 1959) was an Italian fighter ace, seaplane air racer, and test pilot of early Italian experimental jets.
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Flying achievements
After the First World War, Bernardi began racing seaplanes in the international races being held at the time. Perhaps his greatest success in these races came on November 13, 1926, when Major Bernardi won the Schneider Trophy in Hampton Roads. He completed the course in a Macchi M.39 with an average speed of 396.7 km/h on a 350 km circuit.[1]
Death
Mario de Bernardi would die of a heart attack in Rome at the age of sixty-five. He had gone out to a Rome airport to see a German light plane demonstration, and went up in the air in his own light plane, showing off his aerobatic skills. While up in the air, he began to experience a heart attack and settled the plane down to land, only to die minutes later.[2]
Commemoration
de Bernardi's achievements led the Italian military to name their Rome center, Pratica di Mare Air Force Base, after him.
Notes
- ^ "Schneider Trophy history site". http://www.hydroretro.net/coupeen/1926.htm. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.
- ^ "Time Magazine archives". http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,864612,00.html?iid=chix-sphere. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.
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