Eduardo Bradley
Encyclopedia
Eduardo Bradley, born in the city of La Plata
, Argentina
, on April 9, 1887 embodied the Spirit of Aviation in Argentina where he was a major contributor in the funding of civil aviation
. The son of Tomás Bradley Sutton, veteran of the Paraguayan War and of Mary Hayes O’Callaghan. Eduardo Bradley begun his pilot career next to veteran aviator Jorge Newbery
. Bradley brevet
´s was the first issued following the newly created regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization
. Shortly after Newbery's death in 1914, Eduardo Bradley set forth to honor his late friend by attempting to cross the Andean in an aerostat
. Bradley was already an experienced balloonist with over one hundred ascensions and proven records of altitude: (6.900m); endurance on flight (28h10min) and distance covered in-flight (900 km, to Rio Grande do Sul
from Buenos Aires
).
producing gear was absolutely worthless. Of the two balloons the one named “Eduardo Newbery
” was the largest and the one chosen by Bradley for the odyssey at hand. The second balloon, named “Teniente Origone”, was used for testing prior to the actual crossing of the Andean.
Bradley’s first choice for co-pilot was Julio Crespo Vivot, a seasoned aviator who had already flown with Bradley when the later obtained the record of altitude. Crespo Vivot’s refusal to come along on the adventure turn Bradley’s interest towards a young Army Lieutenant by the name of Angel María Zuloaga.
Once in Chile the crew had serious difficulties with the generation of hydrogen
due to the accidental loss of most of the Sulfuric Acid
imported from Argentina. Bradley decided then and there to resort to coal gas
produced in Chile and readily available with a high percentage of hydrogen. The odyssey would have been impossible without the determination of the Chileans authorities which responded to every request for better support from Bradley’s native Argentina. The crossing of the Andean Mountains on an aerostat
filled with coal gas
was finally accomplish successfully on June 24, 1916. At an altitude of 8.100m; the temperature dropped to -30°C. The adventure lasted three and a half hours from the moment of lifting in Santiago until the “Eduardo Newbery” landed in Cerro de la Cepa, Uspallata
, Mendoza
, Argentina
.
Bradley and Zuloaga were welcomed in Argentina as National Heroes. The years following the crossing of the Andean were dedicated by Bradley to develop the local civil aviation industry to which he devoted the rest of his life. He pioneer NYRBA in Argentina, a company founded by Ralph O’Neil; was manager for Pan American Grace Airways and later president of Pan-American Argentina.
On September 4, 1929 Eduardo Bradley becomes the first passenger on a direct fly from Buenos Aires
to Miami on a fly of Pan American. The journey lasted 56 hours. The purpose of his visit to the US was to compete for a second time in the Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning
. Eduardo Bradley died in Buenos Aires on May 4, 1951. He’s buried in the Cementerio de la Recoleta.
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, on April 9, 1887 embodied the Spirit of Aviation in Argentina where he was a major contributor in the funding of civil aviation
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
. The son of Tomás Bradley Sutton, veteran of the Paraguayan War and of Mary Hayes O’Callaghan. Eduardo Bradley begun his pilot career next to veteran aviator Jorge Newbery
Jorge Newbery
Jorge "George" Newbery, born Jorge Alejandro Newbery , was an Argentine pilot of North American descent. His father, Ralph Newbery , emigrated from Long Island, to Argentina after the American Civil War...
. Bradley brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
´s was the first issued following the newly created regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
. Shortly after Newbery's death in 1914, Eduardo Bradley set forth to honor his late friend by attempting to cross the Andean in an aerostat
Aerostat
An aerostat is a craft that remains aloft primarily through the use of buoyant lighter than air gases, which impart lift to a vehicle with nearly the same overall density as air. Aerostats include free balloons, airships, and moored balloons...
. Bradley was already an experienced balloonist with over one hundred ascensions and proven records of altitude: (6.900m); endurance on flight (28h10min) and distance covered in-flight (900 km, to Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
from Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
).
Crossing of the Andes
Preliminary studies had determined the crossing should be Eastbound, which was the direction the winds carried at the altitude required. This later implied moving to Santiago de Chile to make the necessary arrangements. Eduardo Bradley presented his plans to Aero Club Argentino, which eventually provided two balloons and the necessary gear to produce high volumes of hydrogen. Although the balloons turn out to be useful, the hydrogenHydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
producing gear was absolutely worthless. Of the two balloons the one named “Eduardo Newbery
Eduardo Newbery
Eduardo Federico Newbery was an Argentine odontologist and aerostat pilot of North American descent. His father Ralph Lamartine Newbery, emigrated from Long Island, New York, and settled in Argentina after the American Civil War...
” was the largest and the one chosen by Bradley for the odyssey at hand. The second balloon, named “Teniente Origone”, was used for testing prior to the actual crossing of the Andean.
Bradley’s first choice for co-pilot was Julio Crespo Vivot, a seasoned aviator who had already flown with Bradley when the later obtained the record of altitude. Crespo Vivot’s refusal to come along on the adventure turn Bradley’s interest towards a young Army Lieutenant by the name of Angel María Zuloaga.
Once in Chile the crew had serious difficulties with the generation of hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
due to the accidental loss of most of the Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...
imported from Argentina. Bradley decided then and there to resort to coal gas
Coal gas
Coal gas is a flammable gaseous fuel made by the destructive distillation of coal containing a variety of calorific gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and volatile hydrocarbons together with small quantities of non-calorific gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen...
produced in Chile and readily available with a high percentage of hydrogen. The odyssey would have been impossible without the determination of the Chileans authorities which responded to every request for better support from Bradley’s native Argentina. The crossing of the Andean Mountains on an aerostat
Aerostat
An aerostat is a craft that remains aloft primarily through the use of buoyant lighter than air gases, which impart lift to a vehicle with nearly the same overall density as air. Aerostats include free balloons, airships, and moored balloons...
filled with coal gas
Coal gas
Coal gas is a flammable gaseous fuel made by the destructive distillation of coal containing a variety of calorific gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and volatile hydrocarbons together with small quantities of non-calorific gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen...
was finally accomplish successfully on June 24, 1916. At an altitude of 8.100m; the temperature dropped to -30°C. The adventure lasted three and a half hours from the moment of lifting in Santiago until the “Eduardo Newbery” landed in Cerro de la Cepa, Uspallata
Uspallata
Uspallata is a village, and an administrative district, in Argentina in a scenic location on the road which crosses the Andes between Mendoza and Santiago in Chile. It is located west of Mendoza and was once served by the now disused Transandine Railway which passed through the town on its way...
, Mendoza
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
After the facts
On September 4, 1929 Eduardo Bradley becomes the first passenger on a direct fly from Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
to Miami on a fly of Pan American. The journey lasted 56 hours. The purpose of his visit to the US was to compete for a second time in the Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning
Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning
The Gordon Bennett Cup is the world's oldest gas balloon race, and is "regarded as the premier event of world balloon racing" according to the Los Angeles Times. Referred to as the "Blue Ribbon" of aeronautics, the first race started from Paris, France, on September 30, 1906...
. Eduardo Bradley died in Buenos Aires on May 4, 1951. He’s buried in the Cementerio de la Recoleta.