The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
AVIATOR REALIZES
AMBITION WITH
FLIGHT OVER ANDES
Chilian Aviator Forced
To Land Because of
Engine Trouble.

The South Pacific Mall records
the recent crossing of the Andes by
the Chilian aviator Figueroa. who
thereby fulfilled a desire which he
cherished for many years. His In
tention was to fly from Santiago to
Mendoza and return and land at
Vina del Mar in one flight, but a
misfortune prevented him from Yur-
filling the complete project.
Having obtained permission from
the civil and military authorities.
and carrying a sack containing let
ters, newspapers. etc. constituting
the first aerial mail between Chile
and Argentina. Figueroa left the
School of Aviation at 6:23 a. m, and
gaining altitude rapidly disappear
ed over the highest part of the An
des. At 1880 a. m. he had safely
crossed the formidable barrier of
the Cordillera and had arrived over
the Argentine city of Mendoza.
He made several circles over the
town and dropped the bag of mail
on to the main square. He then
attempted to regain altitude in
order to return to Chile without
landing. To his dismay. however, at
that moment motor trouble discon-
Meeting the flow of oil and causing
the motor to become overheated. In
haste the aviator looked for a land
ing place and was fortunate in hnd-
ing suitable ground at Pedregal,
short distance from Mendoza, where
he brought his machine to earth
without mishap. He then tels-
graphed for a mechanic to be sent
at once, in order that the damage
might be repaired and enable him
to return in his machine to Chile.
The mechanic was sent at once, but
It was found that the motor was
burnt out, rendering
the machine useless and necesst-
tating its return by train.
There was great enthusiasm as
soon as the news of the successful
Hight was heard, and kilograms Of
congratulation began to pour in on
the fortunate aviator and the di
rector of the School of Aviation,
Gen. COntreras. both from the Chi
liam and the Argentine side.
Clodomiro Figueroa Is a civilian
aviator. a pioneer of aviation in
South America, who has arways nao
the greatest difficulty in following
the profession to which he had
dedicated himself. and only recent
ly obtained a post at the School of
Military Aviation. He has always
however, pursued the science of
aviation with the greatest intre-
pidity, self-sacrifice and enthusi-
asm. He studied at the School Of
Aviation in Paris at his own ex-
pense and brought back with him a
Bleriot machine with a so horse
power Gnome motor. with this
machine. on March e5. 1918. he
made the fight from Batuco to the
coast. over Vina del Mar and VAL
paraisO, and arrived at Sansino in |
the sight of thousands of enthusiast
tic spectators. some three hours
after he had started on his unin-
terrupted flight He arrived all
covered with OIL and with blood
shot eyes. unprotected by any sor.
or glasses. but he had beaten all |
records for South America for both
distance. speed and time OF iight. |
Already he was filhed with the ar
dent desire to accomplish the flight
across the Andes. and made differ |
ent public flights in various parts
Of the country with the object of
funds to meet the expense
OF the purchase of a machine sum-
GENTLY powerful to accomplish the |
desired feat. Finally a subscrfp-
ton with this object in view was
started in Valparaiso. and proved a |
great success. A machine Of $50
horsepower was ordered from |
France. but it was found that IL
would need twice the sum which
had been collected by his FIGHTS
and the public subscription to pur-
chase a machine of the power which
ne required. A machine of so horse
power was therefore bought and
the Valparaiso. In this
he made several tentative
nights over the Cordilleras and on
December II, 1913 he made the
great attempt to cross the Andes
to the Argentine. He then found |
however. that 1t was impossible to |
cross the Andes in a machine of 40 |
little power. and the attempt almost
cost him his life. A pubIic sub
scription was then raised through
put the whole country, and a ma
chine. after the desires of Ffgue-
roa. was ordered from France. The|
European war, however. interviewed
and rendered it impossible for the
to leave France. i
While Figueroa was patiently |
for the arrival of his cher
ished machine. the laurels for be-
ing the first aviator to conquer the |
Andes were snatched from his
grasp. and other aviators flew the |
Andes.
First came Lieut.. Godoy, who |
new from the Santiago airdrome of |
"El Bosaue" to Mendoza in a 11e-
horsepower Bristol. Then came
Tieut Corfinaz wbo vood> H. A.,