I have to admit I was surprised by this. In my mind I had imagined an open cockpit World War I style biplane and thought the record would be under 10,000 feet because of levels of oxygen in the air.
Feb 20 2021, 6:17 PM
Baloo55th
Answer has 1 vote
Baloo55th 22 year member
4545 replies
Answer has 1 vote.
To add a bit, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.161 you'll see the plane. Pezzi set the record twice, the first being in a pressure suit in an open cockpit, and the second time in a new version of the plane. This, the Caproni Ca.161bis, had the cockpit sealed with the pilot in a pressurised and heated suit as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Pezzi_(aviator) In between Pezzi's records, a Brit called M.J. Adam took the record in a Bristol 138 monoplane - the record not being specifically for bi- or mono-planes.