PRIMEIRA TRAVESSIA
AEREA DO ATLANTICO
1922
SACADURA CABRAL
GAGO COUTINHO

[on a metal sign below it]
100 anos da Aviação Naval
1917-2017

Em 1917, pelo decreto n.3395 de 28 de setembro é criado o Serviço e Escola de Aviação da Armada, que iniciou a sua atividade operacional na doca do Bom Sucesso - a primeira base aeronaval da Marinha Portuguesa, de onde partiram alguns dos mais significativos e heroicos raids aéreos da História da Aviação.

"Sobre a ferra um ligeiro aguaceiro e um arco-íris completo envolvendo a histórica Torre de Belém como n’uma auréola de glória. Vemos ainda lenços agitando-se na muralha do Centro de Aviação. O último adeus e voltando suavemente, meto a proa ao Bugio sobre o qual passamos às 7h5m. Estava iniciada a travessia aérea Lisboa-Rio."

Comandante Sacadura Cabral, Relatório da 1° Travessia Aérea do Atlântico Sul, 1923

Cerimónia presidida por S. Ex" o Presidente da República Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

AVIAÇÃO NAVAL 1917 2017

[on a metal sign below it]
HOMENAGEM A
GAGO COUTINHO SACADURA CABRAL
PRIMEIRA TRAVESSIA AÉREA DO ATLÂNTICO SUL
PRESIDENTE DA REPÚBLICA COM OS PORTUGUESES
1922-2022

The sculpture featuring a seaplane marks the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean.
The flight, made by Portuguese seaplane pilots Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Freire Cabral, was made in 1922 to mark the 100th anniversary of Brazil’s independence. The flight was between Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro.
The flight, which was held in three stages, started at the airport near the Belen Tower (where the sign is located)

A Fairey III seaplane, which made the first stage of the flight, is displayed in the memorial. The monument was placed in 1991

The monument was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

Later, additional signs were added to the monument:
A sign added in 2017 to mark 100 years of naval aviation
Click for a larger image

and a sign added in 2022 to mark the 100th anniversary of that flight
Click for a larger image

A stone slab is placed near the monument, with the flight path on it
INAUGURADO EM NOVEMBER 15 DE 1991
POR SUA EXCELENCIA O MINISTRO DA
DEFESA NACIONAL DR FERNANDO NOGUEIRA

OPENED ON NOVEMBER 15, 1991
FOR HIS EXCELLENCE THE MINISTER OF
NATIONAL DEFENSE DR FERNANDO NOGUEIRA
Click for a larger image

A monument commemorating this flight| is placed in Cascais Click for sign's details

Translation of the text on the sign:
FIRST CROSSING
ATLANTIC AERIAL
1922
CABRAL SACADURA
GAGO COUTINHO

[on a metal sign below it]
100 years of Naval Aviation
1917-2017

In 1917, by decree n.3395 of the 28th of September, the Armada Aviation Service and School was created, which began its operational activity at the Bom Sucesso dock - the first naval air base of the Portuguese Navy, from where some of the most significant and heroic air raids from the History of Aviation.

"Over the rail a light downpour and a full rainbow envelop the historic Belém Tower as in a halo of glory. We can still see handkerchiefs waving on the Aviation Center wall. to the Bugio, which we passed at 7:50 am. The Lisbon-Rio air crossing had begun."

Commander Sacadura Cabral, Report of the 1st Air Crossing of the South Atlantic, 1923

Ceremony presided over by His Excellency the President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

NAVAL AVIATION 1917 2017

[on a metal sign below it]
TRIBUTE TO
GAGO COUTINHO SACADURA CABRAL
FIRST AIR CROSSING OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC WITH THE PORTUGUESE
1922-2022