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Aircraft |
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VARIG’s second hydroplane was
called “Gaúcho”, in tribute to people who live in Rio Grande do Sul
state, and registered as P-BAAA. Besides “Lagoon Line”, it flew to
north beaches: Cidreira, Tramandaí and Torres. This aircraft came
partially disassembled from Germany, on the Rio de Janeiro
transatlantic ocean liner, arriving on August 16, 1927 at the Rio
Grande port, in Rio Grande do Sul state.
Although faster than train, many passengers gave up at the last
minute venturing into those flying machines. Those who did not give
up had their names published in newspaper and told enthusiastic
details about the flight.
VARIG's staff created an unusual way to help night landing. A lead
weight in a rope about 10 meters below the aircraft. When the lead
weight touched the water, the pilot knew it was time to pull the
stick to land. Anyway the pilot still had to be careful because it
could have a trunk or a canoe ahead. At that time there was no
airfields.
In 1930 it was transferred, together with “Atlântico”, to Syndicate
Condor (Brazil) and then in 1933, it was disassembled and its parts
sold as scrap iron. “Gaúcho” was an Dornier Merkur seaplane,
monoplane, semi-metallic with "Heine" type propeller.
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