Italia | |
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Italia in April 1928 | |
Type | N-class semi-rigid airship |
Manufacturer | Stabilimento Costruzioni Aeronautiche-Ministry of Italian Air Force |
Construction number | N-4 |
Manufactured | 1925–1927 |
First flight | 15 April 1928 |
Owners and operators | Italian Geographical Society |
Last flight | 23–25 May 1928 |
Fate | Crashed |
The Italia was a semi-rigid airship belonging to the Italian Air Force. It was designed by Italian engineer and General Umberto Nobile who commanded the dirigible in his second series of flights around the North Pole. The Italia crashed in May 1928, with one confirmed fatality from the crash, one fatality from exposure while awaiting rescue, and six missing crew members who were trapped in the still-airborne envelope. At the end of the rescue operations there were a total of 17 dead (crew and rescuers) and a number of survivors.