Mexico is a country with an incredibly rich aviation heritage that many Americans are not aware of. This section of our exhibit takes a closer look at some of these Mexican Aviators.  Alberto Braniff was the first to make a powered flight in Mexico. He was born to a wealthy and powerful family during the Porfirio Díaz era. His father was a wealthy industrialist who sent him to study in Europe, where he caught "aviation fever" and became interested in aviation. Back in Mexico in 1910, Alberto Braniff made his first short flight in a Voisin Airplane, with a 50 H.P. E.N.V engine, using as a runway the Balbuena Plains in Mexico City. Not only was this the first flight in Mexico, most believe it was the first flight in Central or South America.

Gustavo Salinas Camiña is a true pioneer, being the first person to use an airplane to attack naval vessels in 1914 during the Mexican Revolution. Flying a very early Martin Biplane, Camiña dropped explosives on the gunboats Guerrero and Morelos. He did no damage, but showed the potential for attacking ships from the air. Later, he became the Mexican Air Force's first Division General, and was influential in organizing Squadron 201 during World War Two. For his contributions to aviation and to military aviation, he was decorated by the Mexican, French, Belgian and Peruvian governments.

Gustavo Salinas Camiña in his dress uniform.

Luis Farell Cubillas was a Mexican air force combat pilot during the Mexican Revolution and became one of the most prestigious and exceptional pilots in it. He was born in San Pedro de las Colonias, Coahuila, Mexico. During the Revolution, he fought against Adolfo de la Huerta, the Yaqui rebels and General Arnulfo R. Gomez. He also flew several bombing and strafing sorties against the forces of General José Gonzalo Escobar and General Saturnino Cedillo, both of whom were leading revolts. After the Revolution, Farrell became one of the most known Generals in Mexico and continued to promote Mexican aviation.

Luis Farell in 1965. 

Another such great  is Emilio Carranza, known as the "Mexican Lindbergh," was a daring adventurer during the Golden Age of Flight, on December 9th, 1905.  Many of his formative years were spent in and around aviation, on both sides of the border between the United States and Mexico.  He was commissioned into the Mexican Air Force in January of 1926 as a Lieutenant. In 1926 he purchased a Lincoln Standard and named it the "Coahuila." On Friday, September 2, 1927, at 5:50 in the morning, the "Coahuila" departed Mexico City for Ciudad Juárez, landing there at 4:48 in the afternoon. Captain Emilio Carranza was received triumphantly for making the first nonstop flight between the two cities.  He would go on to set numerous other records.

 On the night of July 12th 1928, Captain Carranza died near Mt. Holly, New Jersey while returning to Mexico after a successful goodwill flight from Mexico City to Washington D.C. After a short flight, the fuel laden aircraft went down in a severe thunderstorm, prematurely ending the promising career of this great flier. Captain Carranza was flying the 'Mexico-Excelsior' aircraft, a Ryan Brougham Monoplane built in San Diego, California by the B. F. Mahoney Aircraft Corporation, which was very similar to the famed Spirit of St. Louis. He is remembered as one of the most renowned aviators in the history of Mexican aviation.

Carranza and his Ryan Brougham.

The first Mexican woman to earn a commercial pilot's license and fly a jet was Berta Zerón. She obtained her private pilot's license in January 1965, logging 200 hours in the Cessna 170.  Additionally, she was an expert sky diver. 

Berta Zerón at the controls! 

Rodolfo Neri Vela was first (and currently only) Mexican that has been into space.  Vela, a professor of Electrical Engineering, was a payload specialists aboard the STS-61-B Atlantis mission in 1985.  He logged more than 165 hours in space. 

Rodolfo Neri in front of the Mexican Flag. 

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