S.M. el Rey conmemora el centenario del vuelo del “Plus Ultra”

Link to the news article: https://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividade... His Majesty the King presided over the commemorative events for the centenary of the "Plus Ultra" flight, the first transoceanic flight between Europe and South America via a Latin American country. The flight departed on January 22, 1926, from Palos de la Frontera (Huelva, Spain), and arrived in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on February 10, 1926. King Felipe presided over the commemorative events for the centenary of one of the great achievements of 20th-century Spanish aviation: the historic flight of the "Plus Ultra" seaplane. This aerial feat in 1926 united Spain and Argentina and projected Spanish aviation onto the international stage. His Majesty the King was accompanied by the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla; The mayor of Palos de la Frontera, Milagros del Rocío Romero Artero; and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Space, General Francisco Braco Carbó; along with other civil and defense authorities and representatives from Argentina and Brazil, inaugurated a commemorative plaque at the “Plus Ultra” monument at the Mirador de la Calzadilla viewpoint. The choice of Palos de la Frontera as the port of departure and return held great symbolic value, emulating Columbus's ships, which connected both shores of the Atlantic. After the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, King Felipe visited the Palos de la Frontera Town Hall, where, after greeting the municipal council, he toured an exhibition on the great flights of Spanish aviation. During his visit, the King also greeted the mayor of the Argentine city of Luján, Leonardo Boto, the city that houses the historic “Plus Ultra” seaplane. The mayors of the two towns have signed a twinning agreement, symbolizing the union between the Spanish city, birthplace of the "Plus Ultra," and the Argentinian city, the current custodian of the seaplane—a friendship forged across the Atlantic. After visiting the exhibition, His Majesty the King appeared on the town hall balcony, where he greeted the residents of Palos de la Frontera. Twenty-five years ago, on January 22, 2001, then Prince of Asturias, Felipe VI attended the 75th anniversary of the "Plus Ultra" flight in Palos de la Frontera, also participating in the official events organized to commemorate that historic occasion. Later, a military ceremony began near the town's bullring, starting with an official honors ceremony. Afterwards, His Majesty the King reviewed the assembled units, greeted the civil and military authorities, and listened to an address by Major General Juan Francisco Sanz Díaz, head of the Historical and Cultural Service of the Air Force and Space. The ceremony continued with the playing of the Air Force and Space Anthem, a tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain, and an air and ground parade. Following this, an air show was performed by the PAPEA parachute patrol and the ASPA helicopter aerobatic patrol. The day concluded with a social gathering in the Youth Tent, where His Majesty the King greeted and spoke with residents of the town in Huelva province. In a toast at the event, His Majesty emphasized that this is an anniversary “to celebrate, without a doubt,” but also a day “to remember not only those who carried out those feats—and we have family members of descendants of those pioneers present here—,” but also to remember “that very recently we suffered a very hard tragedy—this land has suffered it especially—with that train accident that occurred in Adamuz.” “Today’s commemoration, in general, has been productive, it has been timely, because, precisely a few days before what was to be the centenary of the specific date, that accident occurred,” stated King Felipe, before adding that “that is why we are here today, a month later,” because “we remember all of them, their families, the projects cut short, that truly Dantean image of an accident that tests our technical, technological, and human capacity to overcome the impact.” Therefore, His Majesty proposed “a toast that unites us around this poignant and recent memory of a loss, and the poignant and distant memory of a glorious feat of our military aviation, established by a Spaniard, who united continents through the air. With all of them in our memory, let us toast to what unites us Spaniards most and to our beloved Spain.”