Eduardo Bradley: A Pioneer of South American Aviation

24/07/2023 M.Durgut 695 Views aviator, Eduardo Bradley, Pioneer

Eduardo Bradley was an Argentine pilot and balloonist who made history in 1916 when he became the first person to cross the Andes Mountains in a balloon. His feat was a major milestone in the development of civil aviation in South America.

Bradley was born in La Plata, Argentina, on April 9, 1887. He showed an early interest in aviation, and in 1912 he became the first Argentine to earn a pilot’s license. In 1914, he founded the Aero Club Argentino, the first aviation club in Argentina.

Bradley’s most famous accomplishment came in 1916, when he made the first balloon crossing of the Andes Mountains. The flight, which took place on January 16, 1916, began in Mendoza, Argentina, and ended in Santiago, Chile. The trip took 12 hours and 30 minutes, and Bradley flew at an altitude of over 15,000 feet.

Bradley’s balloon crossing was a major achievement, and it helped to put Argentina on the map as a center of aviation. He continued to fly throughout his life, and he also served as a military pilot during World War I. He died in Buenos Aires in 3 June 1951.