Travessia Aérea do Atlântico Sul

The South Atlantic Air Crossing – 100 years is a commemorative edition with the aim of preserving the memory and promoting internationally what was the most notable Portuguese aeronautical feat. This book appears on the initiative of the Naval Air Commission for the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Air Crossing, a joint commission of the Portuguese Navy and the Air Force, created to organize the celebrations of the Centenary of the Crossing.

This book brought together historians and researchers linked to the Navy and Air Force who, in a colloquial, comprehensive and factual style, revisited the most relevant facets of this air journey, including brief biographies of its protagonists. The biography of Sacadura Cabral stands out here, a transcription of an unpublished text by Gago Coutinho, written shortly after his friend's disappearance. No less relevant is also the preface by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who, in his characteristic style, brilliantly describes the relevance that this trip has for Portugal and the Portuguese:

(…) it is like a portico celebrating the 100th anniversary of the crossing of the South Atlantic by our heroes, Sacadura Cabral and Gago Coutinho, it evokes some features, which I think are significant, within our simple observation. The first trait is that of memory: people without memory, nations without memory, are people, someone has already said, destined to not be able to build their future. Memory is crucial for learning from the past, living in the present and projecting that future.

This bilingual work is profusely illustrated with photographs and illustrations from the time, obtained from national and foreign archives, most of which were published for the first time.