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Donatella Ricci

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Donatella Ricci
Born1963
Rome, Italy
Known forFounder Flydonna, Sport Pilot
Websitewww.gyrodona.com

Donatella Ricci (Italian pronunciation Do'natɛlla Ree-chee / riːʧi) born in Rome, is an Italian astrophysicist, sport pilot of ultralight aircraft, holder of the World altitude record with gyroplane, Hot air balloon, Autogyro, Helicopter pilot, founder of FlyDonna international meeting women in aviation and aeronautics, author and speaker.

Career

Ricci graduated at Sapienza University of Rome, PhD in Astrophysics, and completed internships research on black holes at Goddard Space Flight Center, California, USA. At young age Donatella develops interest for flight. Enchanted by hot-air balloons, she soon trains in the Italian Alps Mondovì, where international Hot air balloon festival is held every year. While her professional career unfolds in the aerospace industry, Donatella cultivates her passion for flight and becomes PR Chairlady of Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, also becomes the first female President of the Italian hot-air balloon Association, and in 2001 all the way towards space when she is one of the first Italian female candidates to reach the final selections for astronauts of the European Space Agency (ESA). The selection will see one of her colleagues become an astronaut.

Nevertheless, her desire to make the dream of flying accessible to an ever-larger number of women, makes Donatella the founder of FlyDonna, an international meeting for women working in aviation and aerospace industry, held in Italy. Flydonna adhers to FEWP (Federation of European Women Pilots), founded in Rome in 1995. Currently Donatella Ricci is Leonardo S.p.A. helicopter division Program Manager, near Venice, cultivates her passion for flight and promotes its benefits on occasion of public appearances and at the flight school where she is a flight trainer.

Book

Donatella is an engaging speaker and has written a book about her extraordinary achievement World Record for a Gyroplane: 27,556 feet above the ground [1] Donatella Ricci (author), Samantha Cristoforetti (foreword).

With her book Donatella wishes her experience and accomplishments to be of benefit for flight enthusiasts and pilots alike.[2] During the months-long preparation and testing, many were the questions she had to find answers to, as she was preparing for a journey with a standard gyroplane MagniGyro M16 at altitudes never attempted.

Book versions

Donatella Ricci (author) Samantha Cristoforetti (foreword)

  • Il record di volo in autogiro: 8.399 metri sopra il cielo. Mursia Publisher. 2017. Italy

Awards

For remarkable flying achievements in General Aviation, obtaining engineering advancements and important insights on life support systems in exceptional conditions, Donatella Ricci has been awarded by prestigious institutions

World records

Near Jesolo and Venice, from Caposile airfield flying a MagniGyro M16 gyroplane, Donatella Ricci sets a total of nine world records in one flight as per Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.[5]

Claimant Sport Subclass Record Type Record Performance Date Status
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Microlights and paramotors RGL1 Altitude 8 399 m Nov 8, 2015 Current Record
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Microlights and paramotors RGL1 Time to climb to height 6 000 m 25 min 40 sec Nov 8, 2015 Current Record
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Rotorcraft E-3a Time to climb to height 3 000 m 13 min 44 sec Nov 8, 2015 Current Record
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Microlights and paramotors RGL1 Altitude 8 399 m Nov 8, 2015 Current Record
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Rotorcraft E-3a Altitude without payload 8 399 m Nov 8, 2015 Current Record
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Microlights and paramotors RGL1 Time to climb to height 3 000 m 13 min 44 sec Nov 8, 2015 Current Record
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Rotorcraft E-3a Time to climb to height 6 000 m 25 min 40 sec Nov 8, 2015 Current Record
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Microlights and paramotors RGL1 Time to climb to height 3 000 m 13 min 44 sec Nov 8, 2015 Current Record
Donatella Ricci (ITA) Microlights and paramotors RGL1 Time to climb to height 6 000 m 25 min 40 sec Nov 8, 2015 Current Record

References

  1. ^ "Book: World Record for a Gyroplane: 27,556 feet above the ground".
  2. ^ "Con Donatella Ricci sul tetto del mondo in autogiro". Askanews.it.
  3. ^ " Royal Aeronautical Society, Specialist Award" (PDF).
  4. ^ " Honorable Company of Air Pilots, Myles Bickerton Trophy".
  5. ^ "FAI record claim".
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