Joseph Costa (aviator)
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Joseph Costa | |
---|---|
Santa Cruz, Madeira Island, Portugal | |
Died | November 11, 1998 , New York, United States | (aged 89)
Nationality | Portuguese/American |
Occupation | Aviator |
Spouse | Catherine Cuda Costa |
Joseph Costa (February 22, 1909 – November 11, 1998) was a
Early life
Joseph Costa was born as José Costa in Caniço on Madeira Island on 22 February 1909.[1] He was aged six when his parents emigrated to the United States, taking him along. The Costas settled in Corning, New York. He became known as Joseph Costa, Joseph A. Costa or Joe Costa. In April 1936 Costa obtained USA citizenship.[2]
Aviation
Costa became a pilot, flight instructor,
Costa was the first resident of Corning to get a pilot's licence, obtained at the
Soon afterward, he started advertising passenger flights and operating from nearby Erwin Field on the Painted Post-Coopers Plains Road (Rte 415), flying types such as the Fairchild 24 and the Travel Air.
In 1930, José Costa became determined to fly from New York to Madeira. At that time he owned a Brunner-Winkle Bird A, registered NC834W, which was not capable of such a long flight.
Corning Painted Post airport took Costa's name, and flying events such as the Federal Air Circus of Saratoga, NY, were held there, with Freddy Weisher. The event included parachute-jumping (performed by George Seaver), bomb-dropping, and stunt-flying.[4]
On July 24, 1935 Costa acquired Lockheed Vega Model 5, registered NC105N.
Transatlantic attempt in 1936
José Costa was ready for his transatlantic flight attempt, from the US to Portugal, in 1936, flying the Lockheed Vega he had acquired for the purpose.[9] Flight preparations included blind flying tests and approval for the additional fuel load.[10]
The start of the Spanish Civil War caused the US government to block a direct flight to Portugal, due to the risk of landing in Spanish territory.[11] Instead, Costa would have to divert via South America.
He finally departed from the American Airlines Field (now
The subsequent legs were to Paramaribo in Suriname and Belém in Brazil. The most complicated part followed, a long flight over the jungle to Rio de Janeiro. Due to fuel exhaustion, gas having been pilfered from one of the tanks, he had to ditch in a field in Serro, state of Minas Gerais, on January 15, 1937.[17][18] Although he sustained hardly any injuries,[19] the Vega was damaged beyond repair,[20] only the engine being salvaged. He still arrived in Rio at the controls of an airplane, a WACO having been provided by the Brazilian Military Aviation[21] for him to complete the last leg, after taking off from Belo Horizonte.[22]
Despite having to abort the journey, he received plenty of attention in Brazil, his feat being widely reported in the news. The local Portuguese community gave him honours,[23] inviting him to visit cultural centres and participate in several events. While in Brazil he had the opportunity to go the "Carnaval" in Belo Horizonte. He returned to the US in May. He soon borrowed an airplane, a 90 hp Kreider-Reisner Challenger biplane, owned by Erwin Smith of Tioga[24] and started flying. The Vega's engine, brought back to Corning, was sought by Howard Hughes who sent his representative to meet Costa.[25]
Later years
During WWII Costa was a CAA (later renamed FAA) examiner in Kansas and Iowa, evaluating young cadets seeking to enter the air force. His private licences had been suspended in 1941, and was restored only in December 1942.[26]
After the war, starting in 1946, he dedicated his life to civil aviation. There was the option to become a test pilot for new aircraft, but he considered it to be a dangerous job and declined the opportunity, focusing instead on developing the Costa airport and flying services.
Private life
Costa married Catherine Cuda in 1939.[27] They had a son in 1941 and a daughter in 1945.[28]
Costa died in Corning in the 11 November 1998, aged 89.
Awards
In 1993 the Empire State Aerosciences Museum gave him the Aviation Pioneer Award "in recognition of your outstanding contributions to the development and advancement of General Aviation."[29]
In 1994 the Rochester Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his 65 years in aviation.[29]
Also in 1994, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Administration Administration, Eastern Region, gave him a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of 65 years of distinction as an aviator.[29]
Legacy
José Costa was the first Madeira native to have an airport named after him,[30] the second being Madeira's airport, bearing the name of football star Cristiano Ronaldo.
See also
- Corning (New York) notable people
- Early transatlantic flights
- Luso-American people
- Corning–Painted Post Airport
References
Notes
- ^ "Joseph Costa in the 1940 Census | Ancestry®". Ancestry.com.
- ^ Corning NY Evening Leader 1936-07-13, p12
- ^ Syracuse NY Journal, The World of Aviation, 1930-04-06
- ^ THE EVENING LEADER, CORNING N.Y, 1931-09-23, p12
- ^ The Evening Leader Corning NY, 1935-09-12, p14
- ^ "Welcome to the Website of the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register". dmairfield.org.
- ^ NASM record, as of July 13, 1936
- ^ The Morning Herald Glove Cities, 1935-10-21, p1
- ^ Reis, Ricardo. "Joseph Costa", "TAP Air Portugal UP Magazine, 2014-09-01
- ^ Evening Recorder, Amsterdam N.Y., 1936-07-18, pp. 3, 5
- ^ The Evening Leader Corning N.Y., 1936-08-21, p7
- ^ The Evening leader N.Y., 1936-12-08, p12
- ^ "Joe Costa". earlyaviators.com.
- ^ Allen, 2004
- ^ Schenectady NY Gazette 1936-12-16, p1
- ^ Rochester NY Democrat Chronicle 1936-12-17, p1
- ^ "Desastres Aéreos Brasil 1908-1949". Archived from the original on September 28, 2013.
- ^ Diário Carioca, 16-1-1937, p1
- ^ Correio da Manhã, 1937-1-17, p3
- ^ "Accident NR105N".
- ^ Voz de Portugal, 1937-1-16, p1.
- ^ ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, 1937-02-17, p3
- ^ Suplemento do Jornal A Noite, 1937-3-9
- ^ The Evening Leader Corning NY 1937-05-26
- ^ The Evening Leader Corning NY 1938-10-03
- ^ The Evening Leader Corning NY 1942-12-15
- ^ The Evening Leader Corning N.Y., 1939-07-17, p8
- ^ Corning NY Evening Leader, 1945-08-28, p2
- ^ a b c "Joe Costa". earlyaviators.com.
- ^ "Já existiu um aeroporto com nome madeirense". www.dnoticias.pt. Archived from the original on 2018-04-15.
Bibliography
- Allen, Richard Sanders; Revolution in the Sky: The Lockheeds of Aviation's Golden Age, Rev Sub edition, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2004. ISBN 978-0887405846
External links
- Earlyaviators: José Costa's quest for a prize
- Earlyaviators: José Costa
- Aviador José Costa - Blog Histórico
- Corning-Painted Post Airport - FAA INFORMATION EFFECTIVE 22 AUGUST 2013
- Desastres Aéreos Brasil 1908-1949
- ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 28436
- Accident NR105N
- Vega NR105N airplane history
- Costa Flying Service