Brazilian Senate honors 14-Bis flight and Air Force Day

The Brazilian Senate held a special session to commemorate three significant aviation milestones: the 120th anniversary of the first flight of the 14-Bis, Aviator's Day, and Brazilian Air Force (FAB) Day.

Built and piloted by Alberto Santos Dumont, the 14-Bis completed its historic first flight on October 23, 1906, in Paris. The ceremony, presided over by Senator Marcos Pontes, highlighted the pioneering spirit of Santos Dumont and the importance of the Air Force in national defense and social support.

During the event, Pontes noted that the 14-Bis was a self-propelled aircraft that changed the world, and recalled Santos Dumont's subsequent flight in November 1906, which set the first world aviation record. Air Force Commander Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno also spoke, praising Santos Dumont as a symbol of Brazilian determination and creativity.