Remember the phrase “Plus Ultra”. It means “further beyond” in Latin. The A los heroicos aviadores del Plus Ultra Obelisk commemorates a historic flight. It honors the crew of the “Plus Ultra” hydroplane.
The A los heroicos aviadores del Plus Ultra Obelisk stands in Plaza de la Moncloa. It faces the Air Force headquarters. Architect Luis Gutiérrez Soto designed it. Sculptor Rafael Sanz Rodríguez collaborated on the project. The obelisk marks the 25th anniversary of the transatlantic flight.
Construction began in 1951. The monolithic support finished in 1954. The sculpture was completed in 1956. The A los heroicos aviadores del Plus Ultra Obelisk reaches 17 meters high. An eagle of Saint John sits atop it. The eagle is made of bronze. It was a symbol of the Catholic Monarchs. Franco’s regime used it to connect his dictatorship with religion.
Two plaques adorn the front of the A los heroicos aviadores del Plus Ultra Obelisk. One plaque lists the crew members. The other notes the 1999 restoration. The restoration coincided with the V International Congress of Aeronautical History.
The crew included Commander Ramón Franco. Captain Julio Ruiz de Alda also served. Lieutenant Juan Manuel Durán González was a member. Mechanic Pablo Rada completed the team. The “Plus Ultra” was the first to cross the South Atlantic with a single aircraft.
The “Plus Ultra” was a Dornier Do J Wal seaplane. It had two 450 horsepower Napier Lion engines. Its wingspan measured 22.5 meters. The plane was 17.25 meters long. It had a maximum speed of 185 km/h. Its fuel capacity was 3,900 liters. The plane’s range was 10 hours.
The journey started in Palos de la Frontera. This is the same place Christopher Columbus departed from. The “Plus Ultra” took off on January 22, 1926. It landed near Buenos Aires on February 10. The flight covered 10,270 kilometers in 59 hours and 30 minutes. The average speed was 172 km/h.
The Spanish government gifted the “Plus Ultra” to Argentina. It served in various missions. It ended up in the Luján Museum in Buenos Aires. A full-size replica exists in Madrid’s Air Museum.
A statue stands on a bracket. It shows a female figure dressed in a tunic. This figure represents Victory. She holds a globe in her right hand. This symbolizes the first South Atlantic crossing.
The sides and back feature framed stelae. The east side symbolizes “The Triumph”. Four women are depicted. They represent Greatness, Fame, History, and Glory. The west side shows Pegasus with his rider. A woman feeds Pegasus. The back shows an angel protecting the plane. The angel keeps storms and lightning away. The A los heroicos aviadores del Plus Ultra Obelisk serves as a reminder of courage and innovation.