Description
The monument consists of a podium - with the letters VENEZUELA - in a small park, the Plaza Macuro. Behind the podium is a modern work of art, "Tercer Horizonte" by Rafael Barrios.
In the cement of the round podium are the traces of the helicopter and the hand prints of Francisco Pacheco Diaz and Tomas Spanier Kuert.
Behind the monument there is a rock from the Orinoco on a pedestal.
Inscription(s)
Explanatory plaque:
Fundacion Tokoara
La Guacamaya sobre la estela, de Colon
A las 17:20 hrs. del da 16 de Diciembre de 1992 se poso en este plaza el helicoptera "La Guacamaya" tripulado por los pilotos Venezolanos, Francisco Pacheco Diaz y Tomas Spanier Kuert, salio de Macuro-Venezuela el dia 9 de Diciembre de 1992, lugar donde llego en su tercer viaje el Almirante Cristobal Colonb, realizo a la inversa la ruta que las carabelas efectuaron en 1498, luego de aterrizar en las islas de Trinidad, Cabo Verde y Tenerife, llego aqui, lugar donde Colon partio en su primer viaje, con este vuelo la Fundacion Tokoara conmemora los 500 años del descubrimiento de America. Este proyecto expedicionario fue ejecutado por la Fundacion Tokoara, gracias al patrocinio de: [names]. Caracas, Venezuela 16 de Diciembre de 1992.
Translation: Tokoara Foundation
The Guacamaya on Columbus's wake.
At 17:20 hrs. on December 16, 1992 landed on this square the helicopter "La Guacamaya" manned by Venezuelan pilots Francis Pacheco Diaz and Thomas Spanier Kuert, that had departure from Macuro-Venezuela on December 9, 1992, the place where Admiral Christopher Columbus arrived in his third voyage, following a reverse route as that taken by the caravels in 1498, after they landed in the island of Trinidad, Cape Verde and Tenerife, they arrived here, the place from where Columbus departure in his first voyage. With this flight the Tokoara Foundation commemorates the 500 years of the discovery of America. This expeditionary project was performed by the Tokoara Foundation thanks to the sponsorship of: [names] Caracas, Venezuela December 16, 1992.
Small plaque in front of the explanatory plaque:
Tercer Horizonte 1992. Autor Rafael Barrios, Venezolano. Hierro pintado, 8 m. de altura.
Donada por: Juan Carlos Escotet, Venezolano.
Caracas, Venezuela, 12-10-1992.
Plaque in the podium:
"Dos Venezolanos Francisco Pacheco Diaz y Tomas Spanier Kuert cruzaron el mar oceano en su Guacamaya Matricula YV-304-CP desde Macuro, Venezuela, hasta Palos de la Frontera, hazaña sin precedentes en la historia de la aviacion, por ser la primera vez que se cruza el Atlantico en helicoptero. Dejan en este podium las huellas de su aeronave, el nombre y el escudo de su pais para la historia del mundo y en conmemoracion del V centenario del descubrimiento de America.
Caracas, Venezuela, 12 de Octubre de 1992."
Translation: Two Venezuelans, Francis Pacheco Diaz and Thomas Spanier Kuert crossed the ocean sea in their Guacamaya register YV-304-CP from Macuro, Venezuela, to Palos de la Frontera, great deed without precedent in the history of aviation, because it was the first time the Atlantic Ocean has been crossed in helicopter. They leave in this podium the mark of their airship, the name and coat of arms of their country for the history of the world and in commemoration of the 5th centenary of the discovery of America.
Caracas, Venezuela, October 12, 1992.
Plaque on the pedestal of the rock:
"A la ciudad de Palos de la Frontera y en homenaje al espiritu de sus hombres de mar, Venezuela obsequia, una roca de tipo canto rodado, extraida del lecho del Rio Orinoco, situado en su Macizo Guayanes, como elemento representativo del punto geologico donde la historio del planeta llega a su mas remota ancianidad.
Caracas, Venezuela, 12 de Octubre de 1992."
Translation: To the city of Palos de la Frontera and in homage to the spirit of its sea-men, Venezuela gives a pebble, taken from the bottom of the Orinoco river, located in its Guayana massif, as a representative element of the geologic point where the history of the planet reaches its most remote old age.
Caracas, Venezuela, October 12, 1992.
Annotation
In 1992, Venezuelan helicopter pilots Francisco Pacheco and Tomas Spanier flew a record-setting, trans-Atlantic trek from Venezuela to Spain on a MD 500D. Beginning on October 11, 1992, from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and ending at Palos de la Frontera on December 16, the flight was marked as the longest over-ocean flight.
Inspired by history, the two pilots circled in reverse Columbus' third voyage, which marked the explorer's first landing in Venezuela (that's the reason it is included here).
The Plaza Macuro refers to this first transatlantic flight in a helicopter.
Sources & Information
- Translations: Marcos Iglesias
Tags
Locatie (N 37°12'28" - W 6°55'38") (Satellite view: Google Maps)
Item Code: esan030;
Photograph: 9 March 2002
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt
Your banner here? Click for information.