Biography of Angelo D'arrigo

En Plein Air

April 3, 1961
March 26, 2006
Angelo D'Arrigo was born on April 3, 1961 French mother and Italian father. Passionate lover of mountain and extreme sports at the age of twenty he graduated from the University of Paris. Since 1981 is committed to obtain patents for free flight instructor with hang gliding and paragliding, then alpine guide and ski instructor. Over time, accumulating experience and always renewed passion, extreme sport becomes his life. His racing career launched him briefly to international summits of sport flying. Angelo D'Arrigo will fly on all continents, roam the seas, mountains, deserts and volcanoes. His closest companions will become Eagles and birds of various species.
Designs and manufactures the Alps activities in its three specialties: extreme skiing, hang gliding and mountain climbing. Carry out candid documentary and takes care of their dissemination in schools and cultural centres in Paris. From the years ' 90 Angel is one of the major contributors to the development and cultural diffusion of extreme sports, where the individual and nature are the protagonists. In a report to a national network French fly first from Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, in full eruption. Here in Sicily, the region to which they are linked its origins, to create a school of free flight, the "Etna" Fly ". The unique and spectacular combines the four elements air, water, Earth and fire: free flight training centre is transformed over time into a tourist center based on the practice of extreme sports, the No Limits Etna Center. "
In France, the home of his friend Patrick De Gayardon, another great character of the sector, the press affibia to Angel as "Funambulles de l'extreme". After years of competition in free flight and two world titles won with gliding, Angel decides to move away from the racing circuit. Is dedicated to exceeding the flight record and especially to the emulation of the flight of birds of prey for the flight search instinctive. Begins an ambitious project entitled "Metamorphosis": an analytical study of the techniques of the largest flying birds of prey from the five continents. By Eagles delle Alpi to Himalayan birds of prey and vultures of Latin America to those Australians, Angelo D'Arrigo learns to observe them and live with them, respectful of their environment-the air element-and their hierarchical rules. Research, unique businesses, arouse a strong media interest worldwide. In a natural way, studies and results of D'arrigo are provided of science, ethology (in Italy is working with prof. Danilo Mainardi) to biology.
It is the first man to cross the Sahara in free flight, without the aid of the engine, to cross Siberia and fly over Everest, the highest mountain on the planet. In 2005 published the book "flying over the world," autobiography in which he tells his main experiences: "I wonder what it would be like happy Leonardo da Vinci to see Angelo D'Arrigo fly on deserts, cross the Mediterranean, flying over Everest and glide for hundreds of kilometres just hanging a contraption made of sticks and tissues," says Piero Angela in the preface. Angelo D'Arrigo dies tragically on March 26, 2006 plummeting with a small light aircraft during a demonstration in Comiso (Sicily).
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.