2009 Independence Day
Rampa style
Natal, Brazil, is the home of The Rampa Foundation. Established in 2001 as the caretaker of a 1943 Pan Am Seaplane Station building, known popularly as "Rampa" by the locals, in 2008 a new board assumed and The Rampa Foundation became a Cultural Institution dedicated to the research, preservation and difusion of Natal's rich Aviation past.
One of our annual activities is parading the Independence Day, September 7, in Brazil. This day in 1822, Brazil became independent from Portugal, politically. In Natal there is a Parade, with civil and military representatives and as the responsable for keeping Natal's rich Aviation History alive, The Rampa Foundation was present.
At the Stand, military and civil authorities, among them Brazilian Air Force Brig. Botelho, commander of FAE I, the Mayor Ms. Micarla de Souza, the Representative Leader Robson Faria and the Governor, Ms. Wilma de Farias.
Brazilian Air Force aircrafts, AT-26 Xavante, A-29 Super Tucano and Esquilo helicopters overflew the Parade. They belong to several squadrons within Natal Air Force Base (BANT - Base Aerea de Natal). School boys and girls, Scouts and other civilians shared the Parade with the Army, State Police, Navy and Air Force. The Rampa Foundation is a private, civil institution.
An Idependence Day Parade is so if WW2 veterans are there. Brazil sent to Europe a whole Infantry Division to fight within the U.S. 5thArmy in Italy. It was called F.E.B. Força Expedicionária Brasileira (Brazilian Expeditionary Force). They were there, every year fewer, but they are our pride.
The Rampa Foundation's Board were there, all six of us, President Col. Sendin, Secretary Augusto Maranhão, Treasurer Pedro Tavares, Research Director Fred Nicolau, Public Realtions Director Leonardo Dantas, Marketing Director Marinho Neto and the new generation, Marinho's son Heitor in an Air Force's pilot outfit.
One of the Army units in Natal, the 17th G.A.C. was there in great numbers with their 105mm Howitzers and their towing trucks plus a Brazilian-made Engesa EE-9 Cascavel, a 6-wheeled armoured car borowed from another Army unit, all belonging to the 7th Brigade.