A century in flight

Colonel Marco Bertoli reflects on the centenary of the first Italy–Australia flight, celebrating the pioneering spirit that continues to unite the two nations through history, innovation, and shared vision.

In 1924–25, Italian aviators Francesco De Pinedo and Ernesto Campanelli completed the first Italy-Australia flight, a journey as groundbreaking then as the moon landing was in 1969. One hundred years later, Colonel Marco Bertoli, Italy’s Defence Attaché in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated that historic feat at Point Cook RAAF Military Base Museum in Melbourne. 

When Colonel Marco Bertoli took up his post as Defence Attaché for Australia and New Zealand in 2023, he brought more than three decades of experience in aviation. A 1990 graduate of the Italian Air Force Academy, he trained at Columbus Air Force Base in the United States before flying the legendary F-104 Starfighter. He later became one of the first Italian pilots to fly the Eurofighter Typhoon. Over his career, he has logged more than 1,000 hours on each of these iconic aircraft, commanded Italian air defence units, and lived the dream that inspired him as a young man: to fly. “Aviation has been my life,” he reflects. “But more importantly, it has been a bridge—to new technologies, new responsibilities, and new friendships across the world.”

With this personal and professional background, Bertoli addressed the crowd at the RAAF Military Base Museum in Point Cook to mark the hundredth anniversary of the first flight from Italy to Australia. The event, promoted by Italian Ambassador Paolo Crudele and by Bertoli himself, was not just a look back at history but a reaffirmation of the enduring values that define aviation today. “People at the time compared it to a moon landing,” he reminded the audience, “and in many ways, it was. They ventured into the unknown with limited tools but limitless determination.”

Aviators Francesco De Pinedo and Ernesto Campanelli flew a SIAI Marchetti seaplane—an ancestor of today’s Leonardo Aerospace fleet—across 23,500 kilometres from Sesto Calende to Melbourne. They landed in St Kilda after what was then the longest flight ever recorded. With an open cockpit and instruments limited to a compass, they were exposed to storms, winds, and the scorching sun. “Their courage was not only about aviation,” Bertoli explained. “It was about vision, about connecting communities across continents. For the Italian diaspora in Australia, it was a lifeline, a reminder that their homeland was closer than they imagined.”

For Bertoli, the story of De Pinedo and Campanelli is also the story of aviation itself: a discipline that continuously shrinks the world while expanding human possibility. “When I think that research may soon allow supersonic flights between Milan and Melbourne in just two hours, I realise how much the world has changed,” he said. “But the essence is the same: to bring people closer, shorten distances, and build connections.”

The centenary celebration also highlighted how the pioneering flight laid the groundwork for deeper ties between Italy and Australia—ties that Bertoli himself now embodies in his role. “Aviation has always been a bridge between nations,” he observed. “Our collaboration today demonstrates shared values of security, innovation, and partnership.” That collaboration remains tangible. In 2025, Italy deployed the aircraft carrier Cavour and its air assets to Darwin to participate in Pitch Black, one of the largest air exercises in the Asia-Pacific. The mission then continued to Japan before returning to Europe—a journey that echoed in spirit the global reach of the 1924–25 adventure.

Living in Australia has given Bertoli a close view of these bonds; not only on a military level but also within the broader community. “This has been an extremely enriching experience, both professionally and personally,” he said. “I have discovered not only a strong ally but also a vibrant community. The Italian diaspora here is remarkable, proud and active, and aviation remains part of their story.”

Looking forward, Bertoli is convinced that the spirit of De Pinedo and Campanelli continues to inspire both nations. “Their achievement was not just about reaching Melbourne,” he reflected, “it was about showing what is possible when courage and vision come together. Today, our challenge is different, but the mission is the same: to strengthen bonds, imagine new horizons, and pursue them together.”

One hundred years after that daring flight, the world has changed beyond recognition, yet the message remains timeless. From seaplanes navigating by compass to dreams of supersonic travel, the story of Italy and Australia’s aviation ties is one of continuity through transformation. As Colonel Marco Bertoli concluded with quiet conviction: “The horizon is closer than we think, and it is one we will continue to reach together.”