(1923-2017)Luigi “Gino” Pascale was born in Naples, Italy, whose passion for aviation began during the 1930’s when with his brother Giovanni “Nino” they won many model plane races. The two brothers built their first aircraft, the P48 Astore, which flew on the 2nd of April 1951.
At the time the Professor Luigi had just graduated with a Master Degree as a Mechanical Engineer (the Department of Aeronautical Engineering was created later by the Professor Pascale himself) and started his career at the University of Naples as assistant of Professor Umberto Nobile. Nobile was also an outstanding aviation character, undertaking the first expedition to North Pole with an airship.
Gaining his Pilots License is 1951; Professor Pascale designed and built a number of competition winning ‘race’ planes including the P55 Tornado.
Founding PARTENAVIA in 1957 began building General Aviation planes ‘for everyone’. Aircraft such as the P64 Oscar and P66 became bestsellers and firm favorites as training aircraft and led to his innovative P68 light twin design.
In 1986 the two Pascale brothers founded TECNAM, and Professor Pascale’s first design the P92 has now flown 200,000 hours with over 2,500 in service worldwide.
Professor Pascale has received numerous accolades and awards including the ‘Paul Tissandier diploma’ from Federation Aeronautique Internationale, the ‘Aeroplano d’Argento’ and earlier this year the ‘Flieger Magazin’ Award.
In 2016, Professor Pascale received an Honorary Degree in Aerospace.
With his timeless passion for flying, today TECNAM is the world’s largest producer of both General Aviation and Light SportAircraft and delivers a new aircraft every working day.
Professor Luigi Pascale awards as designer:
- Paul Tissandier diploma from Federation Aeronautique Internationale
The Paul Tissandier Diploma was established by the FAI in 1952, and is named after Mr. Paul Tissandier, Secretary General of FAI from 1919 to 1945. It is awarded to those who have served the cause of Aviation in general and Sporting Aviation in particular, by their work, initiative, devotion or in other ways. - Aeroplano d’Argento (Silver Plane) from UGAI (Italian Aerospace Journalist Association)
- AirPress diploma
- Diploma di Merito Accademia Pontaniana
- Flieger Magazin Award 2013
- Honorary Degree Aerospace Engineering 2016
Images:
- Pascale Brothers 1948
- Prof. Luigi Pascale 1964
- Prof. Luigi Pascale 2013
- Prof. Luigi Pascale with Tecnam P2006T
- Prof. Luigi Pascale 2016
- Prof. Luigi Pascale Honorary Degree






