Artur de Sacadura Cabral

Who was Artur de Sacadura Cabral?

Artur de Sacadura Freire Cabral, GCTE, known simply as Sacadura Cabral, was a Portuguese aviation pioneer who in 1922, together with Gago Coutinho, conducted the first flight across the South Atlantic Ocean, and also the first using astronomical navigation only, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. On 15 November 1924, he disappeared while flying over the English Channel, along with his co-pilot, Mechanical Corporal José Correia, due to fog and his shortening eyesight. The remains of the plane were found four days later, but there was no sign of the bodies. A statue dedicated to them is located in Lisbon. Another statue is located in his hometown, Celorico da Beira. Descendants of Sacadura Cabral can still be found in aviation, including an American flight medic in the U.S. Air Force.

He was the granduncle of Portuguese politicians Miguel Portas and Paulo Portas.