On this 20th of July, the 150th anniversary of the birth of the "Father of Aviation" was completed. In various parts of Brazil, FAB (Brazilian Air Force) pilots make displays to commemorate this day.
Full name: Alberto Santos-Dumont
Birthdate: July 20, 1873
Birthplace: Palmira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Deathdate: July 23, 1932
Deathplace: Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil
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Santos Dumont young
Nationality: Brazilian
Occupation: Aeronaut, inventor, sportsman
Known for: Pioneering work in aviation
Awards: Legion of Honor
Significance: Santos-Dumont is widely considered to be the "Father of Brazilian Aviation". He was the first person to fly a heavier-than-air powered aircraft in Europe, and he made significant contributions to the development of both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air aircraft.
Santos-Dumont was born into a wealthy family, and he began his engineering studies at the age of 16. However, he soon became interested in aviation, and he began experimenting with balloons and gliders. In 1906, he made his first powered flight in a biplane called the 14-bis. This flight was witnessed by a large crowd of people, and it made Santos-Dumont a celebrity overnight.
Santos-Dumont made his first powered flight on November 12, 1906, in Paris, France. He flew for 220 meters (722 feet) and stayed in the air for 21 seconds. Santos-Dumont continued to experiment with aircraft design, and he developed several new models, including the Demoiselle, which was one of the first successful ultralight aircraft. He also made several long-distance flights, including a flight from Paris to Lisbon in 1907.
Santos-Dumont's work helped to popularize aviation, and he is credited with inspiring many other people to become aviators. He was also a pioneer in the use of aircraft for commercial purposes, and he founded the first airline in Brazil.
Superstitious, the staircase of his cozy home (now a Museum) in Petrópolis city located in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was designed in such a way that you always start the ascent and descent with your right foot.
Santos-Dumont died in 1932 at the age of 59. He is buried in the Cemitério da Consolação in São Paulo.
