‘Elcano’ Squadron Expedition: Madrid-Manila / 1926
«…they did not come to trace a commercial route, but to bring the affection of the Motherland of Spain» D. Manuel Quezón, President of the Superior Council of the Philippines.
The Journey and the Crew
After a meticulous study of routes and meteorology, the flight was planned for March–April, the only time of year with certain guarantees to avoid the sandstorms of the Arabian Peninsula, the squalls of India, or the monsoons of Southeast Asia. The Breguet 19 aircraft, with a 450 hp Lorraine engine and a long range, was chosen. For safer navigation, a radio set and additional navigation equipment, weighing about 60 kg, were installed, along with a mechanic to assist with necessary revisions and repairs.
The long and dangerous raid was divided into four zones, starting in the Mediterranean until Cairo; the 2nd between Cairo and Karachi, a zone of sandstorms and cyclones; the 3rd between Karachi and Saigon, with terrible storms and monsoons; and the 4th between Saigon and Manila, where the wear and tear of the planes and the long over-sea legs presented the final challenge.
The crew consisted of Captains Martínez Estévez, Lóriga Taboada, and González Gallarza, accompanied by Sergeants Eugenio Puerta and Amocha as relief mechanics. On April 30th, Lóriga’s plane made an emergency landing due to a breakdown in the desert, where he and his mechanic, Cabo, remained for 6 days until being rescued.
The two remaining planes continued the route, stopping in cities like Calcutta, Bangkok, Saigon, Hanoi, and Macao. In the latter city, a breakdown in Gallarza’s plane forced the crew to board the «Alsedo» steamer to the Filipino capital, arriving on May 13th.
To continue, they decided to repair Gallarza’s plane, and the two pilots together reached Manila on May 13th, after covering 17,150 Km in 33 days.
The Breguet 19s and their Engines
The planes were named after Juan Sebastián Elcano, Fernando de Magallanes, and Antonio de Pigafetta.
- They were equipped with a 450 hp Lorraine engine, with up to 980 l of fuel, distributed in 3 fuselage tanks, two lateral wing tanks, and one in the center, and the engine was modified for an additional 40 l.
- As support elements, they carried charts from the Royal Airship and a Byam sextant.
- Pilots and co-pilots were equipped with leather hoods used by a patrol of American airmen near Manila.
- They were named doctors honoris causa at the University of Santo Tomás.
Chronology and Purpose
April 5th – May 11th, 1926 17,150 Km. 106 KM/H