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Francesco Agello | |
|---|---|
 Francesco Agello poses with hisMacchi M.C.72 | |
| Born | (1902-12-27)27 December 1902 |
| Died | 24 November 1942(1942-11-24) (aged 39) |
| Allegiance | Italy |
| Awards | |
Francesco Agello (27 December 1902 – 24 November 1942) was an Italiantest pilot.
Born atCasalpusterlengo,Lombardy,Italy, Agello graduated from pilot school in 1924 and soon became a test pilot. He was the fourth of four test pilots who tried to set a speed record with theMacchi M.C.72. However, one after the other, the test pilots ahead of Agello died (first Monti and then Bellini flying the M.C. 72, Neri died flying a CR-20 in 1933). Agello became famous when he succeeded in piloting the plane to a new speed record (over water) on 10 April 1933. He attained an average speed of 683 km/h (424 mph). More than a year later he flew the M.C. 72 to a new speed record of more than 700 km/h (709 km/h or 440 mph) on 23 October 1934. Both records, while obtained in aseaplane, also were absoluteflight airspeed record. No one has ever flown a piston-engine seaplane faster since that date.
Agello was awarded theDe la Vaulx Medal twice for his speed records, once in 1933 and again in 1934. In 1934 he was also awarded theMedal of Aeronautic Valor.[1]
In 1935 Agello joined the Italian government's airplane test center.
Agello died duringWorld War II testing the newMacchi C.202 fighter atBresso, nearMilan, when his aircraft collided with another C.202 piloted byWorld War Iflying ace and fellow test pilotGuido Masiero in heavy fog on 24 November 1942. Masiero also was killed.[2]
