The Tunisian Association of Aeronautics (ATA) celebrated the 105th anniversary of the first intercontinental flight made between Tunis and Marsala (Italy) by aviator Roland Garros.
The celebration took place on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the racing racecourse of Ksar Said which was the first Tunisian aerodrome between 1911 and 1924.
The Tunisian Association of Aeronautics provided for the guests attending the celebration the opportunity to watch a unique experience of free flight aboard Para-engines performed by Ali Barouni and instructor Biegnon Romain.
On December 18, 1912, the aviator Roland Garros, champion of aerial races and world record holder of altitude, made the first intercontinental flight between Africa and Europe, connecting Tunisia to Italy while passing by Sicily until reaching Rome in several stages.
On September 23, 1913, aboard a Morane-Saulnier single engine, Roland Garros made the first France-Tunisia air crossing, more than 800 km above the sea, leaving Fréjus to land in Bizerte.
ATA President Habib Soussia said this day is a celebration of the 105th anniversary of the first intercontinental flight made between Tunis and Marsala (Italy) by aviator Roland Garros.
He said that aviator Roland Garros made the first intercontinental flight between Africa and Europe.
This racing racecourse of Ksar Said was the first Tunisian aerodrome (1911-1924), where people used to attend aviation shows, he went on saying.
It is the first Tunisian Airport and the launching of aviation started here in Tunis and in the world, Habib Soussia added.
We invited a team of paramotors from France who made the show of free flight aboard Para-engines led by instructor Biegnon Romain, he said.
TunisianMonitorOnLine (MNHN)