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Three Spanish seaplanes flew from Melilla to Equatorial Guinea in 1926
In December 1926, three Spanish seaplanes set off from Melilla for Santa Isabel, then in Spanish Guinea and now Malabo, in Equatorial Guinea.
The Atlántida Patrol, led by commander Rafael Llorente Solá, reached the island of Fernando Poo on December 25 after 15 days.
The planes followed Africa’s west coast, stopping at places including Casablanca, Dakar, Monrovia and Lagos.
The journey aimed to demonstrate what aircraft could do, photograph and map the territory, and assess whether an air link with the colony was possible.
The outbound trip covered about 6,829 kilometres in nine stages and took nearly 54 hours of flying.
A support vessel carried fuel, tools and spare engines as the crews dealt with mechanical problems and difficult conditions.
The patrol returned to Melilla in late February 1927, completing more than 15,000 kilometres, and Spain’s Air and Space Force is marking the expedition’s centenary in 2026.
Three Spanish Dornier Wal seaplanes flew from Melilla to Spanish Guinea in December 1926.
The aircraft, named Andalucía, Cataluña and Valencia, reached Santa Isabel on Fernando Poo island on 25 December.
The expedition covered about 6,829 kilometres on the outward journey, across nine stages and nearly 54 hours of flight.
Its aims included demonstrating aviation capabilities, photographing and mapping the territory, and assessing the feasibility of an air link with the colony.
The crews faced mechanical problems and difficult weather, with a motor-sailer carrying fuel, tools and spare engines to support them.
- Who
- Three Spanish seaplane crews led by Commander Rafael Llorente Solá.
- What
- They flew from Melilla to Spanish Guinea as the Patrulla Atlántida expedition.
- When
- The outward journey began on 10 December 1926 and reached Santa Isabel on 25 December.
- Where
- From Melilla to Santa Isabel, on Fernando Poo island in Spanish Guinea, now Equatorial Guinea.
- Why
- To demonstrate aviation capabilities, photograph and map the territory, and study the feasibility of an air link with the colony.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
The three seaplanes took off from Melilla.
The aircraft made stops at locations including Casablanca, Las Palmas, Dakar and Lagos.
The expedition reached Santa Isabel on Fernando Poo island.
The crews set out on the return journey and arrived back in Melilla in late February 1927.
- Aircraft
- Three Dornier Wal seaplanes: Andalucía, Cataluña and Valencia
- Expedition leader
- Commander Rafael Llorente Solá
- Outward journey
- About 6,829 kilometres over nine stages
- Flight time
- Nearly 54 hours on the outward journey
- Destination
- Santa Isabel, on Fernando Poo island in Spanish Guinea
Sources
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