Eduardo Newbery

Eduardo Federico Newbery (Buenos Aires, February 17, 1878– Río de la Plata, October 17, 1908) was an Argentine odontologist and aerostat pilot.

Eduardo Newbery was of American descent. His father Ralph Lamartine Newbery, emigrated from Long Island, New York, and settled in Argentina after the American Civil War (in which, supposedly, he took part at the Battle of Gettysburg). Eduardo was one of aviation pioneer Jorge Newbery's siblings (the other's were Ernesto Purcell, Elena Rosa, Rodolfo León and María de los Dolores (twins), Elvira Teresa, Emma Catalina, Carlos Alfredo, Luis Alfredo, Juan Alberto Martín and Ana Eva).

Eduardo Newbery took several flights across Argentina. He was admired by many becoming a celebrity in its own time. His mother, however, disapproved of his passion, always fearing for the worst. His brother Jorge, however, was arguably his number one fan, and felt great respect and admiration for Eduardo.

On October 17, 1908, Eduardo Newbery took off on the aerostat "Pampero" along with Argentine Army Corporal Eduardo Romero (who happened to at the last minute responding to an invitation by Newbery). The flight that would take them northbound from Buenos Aires in an attempt to achieve a night-flying record ended in tragedy and the ambition ultimately took both their lives . Neither the aerostat nor its pilot or companion were ever found. Eduardo Newbery and Eduardo Romero were the first Argentines ever to perish in an aircraft accident.

In 1916, the Aero Club Argentino named a second aerostat in honor of Eduardo Newbery. That balloon would become the first ever to cross the Andean mountains at an altitude of 8.100 meters filled with coal gas. The pilot of such an adventurous endeavor was Eduardo Bradley. The latter also manned the aircraft on several air competitions in Argentina establishing new records of distance, endurance and altitude.

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