Perched high above us a bronze figure embodies flight. This is the Monument to the Heroes of the Air. It stands tall in Aviators’ Square on Aviators’ Boulevard. The monument commemorates Romanian aviators. These brave men contributed to aviation’s development.
The Monument to the Heroes of the Air was created between 1930 and 1935. Sculptors Lidia Kotzebue and Iosif Fekete designed it. The structure reaches 20 meters high. It features bronze sculptures on a stone obelisk. Four trapezoidal prisms support the obelisk. These prisms are connected by stone arcs. A circular stone base grounds the entire complex.
At the top of the 15-meter obelisk a five-meter statue stands. This statue depicts a flying man with outstretched wings. A shawl drapes from his waist. It adds a sense of movement. Around the obelisk’s base are three aviators. They are depicted in different stages of flight. The pedestal features aviators’ insignia. Helmets and equipment are also engraved. Plaques display the names of Romanian airmen. These men died in crashes by the time the monument was built. They pursued skill development adventure and fought in World War I.
Gheorghe Caranda’s name is first. He died on April 20 1912 during a training flight. Sava Rotaru’s name is last. He died on May 29 1934 in thick fog near Cernavodă. Ninety-nine additional names were added later. These are on the North bottom side of the pedestal.
In 1927 a committee formed to construct the Aviators’ Monument. This group included Prof. I. Cantacuzino. General Vasile Rudeanu and others were also members. The committee launched a design contest. Artists painters and sculptors were invited to participate. Twenty designs were submitted. The public chose the winner by secret ballot at the Romanian Athenaeum.
Lidia Kotzebuie’s design won. Joe Louis a boxer who visited Bucharest served as a model. He was used for the aviator’s body. The head came from a catalogue of famous aviators. Kotzebuie created a model of the monument. It was one-quarter the planned size. The committee approved her project in October 1927. In 1930 the Air Ministry helped bring material from the Argeș River. The statue was cast in bronze at the Malaxa Factory. This happened in May 1930.
On July 21 1935 the inscription “Eroilor Aerului” was added. It means “To the Airmen Heroes”. The unveiling took place the next day. State authorities ministers and Air Ministry representatives attended. Speeches were given and congratulations were offered. A military parade followed. Honour guards and aviators participated. Military honours were awarded to the pilots listed on the monument’s base.
In 1981 a miniature copy went into outer space. Cosmonaut Dumitru Prunariu carried it. After 1989 the cross of the Order of Aeronautical Virtue was restored. This is above the dedication. Every Aviators’ Day on July 20 wreaths and flowers are laid here. This honours those commemorated. The Monument to the Heroes of the Air stands as a powerful symbol. It represents courage sacrifice and the pursuit of flight.