Juan Ignacio Pombo: Santander-Mexico / 1935
«…Spanish youth and soul, the illusion of a Santander pilot»
«…in difficult moments I thought of my belief in God, my family… and Spain» Juan Ignacio Pombo
The Origin of the Flight and the Aircraft
On two occasions, the arrival in Mexico—a country that longed for a visit from our airmen—had been thwarted. In 1929, the Jesús del Gran Poder changed its route, and in 1933, the tragedy of the Cuatro Vientos put the journey on stand-by.
In 1935, the young Juan Ignacio Pombo Alonso-Pesqueira, at just 21 years old, decided to attempt it solo.
- Pombo, a man of quiet, determined nature, proposed to cross the ocean solo to reach Mexico. He sought assistance from his family, municipality, City Council, Provincial Council, and private citizens, who raised the money to purchase a second-hand British Klemm Eagle aircraft, with a 130 hp engine and a 685-liter tank capacity, giving it a range of 4,800 km. It was named «Mi Niño» (My Boy) in honor of his homeland, Santander.
The Crossing and the Record
On Sunday, May 12th, 1935, he began the flight, intending to reach Mexico after completing the 3,500 km Atlantic crossing. He covered the 6,758 kilometers over the sea—the most interesting and longest distance recorded up to that time by a sport plane—in 34 hours and 28 minutes. After stops in Natal (Brazil), in three stages and 47 minutes of flight time, and overcoming a dangerous engine correction after an accident in Camucuí (Brazil) and an appendicitis operation in San José, Costa Rica… his courage, composure, and will led him to the goal: glory and his fiancée, Mª Helena Rivero, whom he married months later.
- The record achieved was: 10,978 Km. 74 hours and 1 minute and 4 seconds.
Reception and Honor
He was received with honors and tributes in all the cities he visited, and was named a cadet of the medals awarded in the eight countries he visited. At the Royal Palaces, he received the honorary ensign’s armband of the Mexican air force.
In Spain, Gil Robles, Minister of War, granted him a scholarship, and he was deservedly awarded the Ramón Prize of 1935.