Donatella Ricci
Donatella Ricci born in Rome, is an Italian astrophysicist, sport pilot of ultralight aircraft, holder of the World altitude record with gyroplane, Hot air balloon, Autogyro, Helicopter pilot, founder of FlyDonna international meeting women in aviation and aeronautics, author and speaker.
Career
Ricci graduated at Sapienza University of Rome, PhD in Astrophysics, and completed internships research on black holes at Goddard Space Flight Center, California, USA.At young age Donatella develops interest for flight. Enchanted by hot-air balloons, she soon trains in the Italian Alps Mondovì, where international Hot air balloon festival is held every year.
While her professional career unfolds in the aerospace industry, Donatella cultivates her passion for flight and becomes PR Chairlady of Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, also becomes the first female President of the Italian hot-air balloon Association, and in 2001 all the way towards space when she is one of the first Italian female candidates to reach the final selections for astronauts of the European Space Agency. The selection will see one of her colleagues become an astronaut.
Nevertheless, her desire to make the dream of flying accessible to an ever-larger number of women, makes Donatella the founder of FlyDonna, an international meeting for women working in aviation and aerospace industry, held in Italy. Flydonna adhers to FEWP, founded in Rome in 1995.
Currently Donatella Ricci is Leonardo S.p.A. helicopter division Program Manager, near Venice, cultivates her passion for flight and promotes its benefits on occasion of public appearances and at the flight school where she is a flight trainer.
Book
Donatella is an engaging speaker and has written a book about her extraordinary achievement World Record for a Gyroplane: 27,556 feet above the groundDonatella Ricci, Samantha Cristoforetti.
With her book Donatella wishes her experience and accomplishments to be of benefit for flight enthusiasts and pilots alike. During the months-long preparation and testing, many were the questions she had to find answers to, as she was preparing for a journey with a standard gyroplane MagniGyro M16 at altitudes never attempted.
Book versions
Donatella Ricci Samantha CristoforettiAwards
- Royal Aeronautical Society Specialist Award
- Honourable Company of Air Pilots Myles Bickerton Trophy
World records
Claimant | Sport | Subclass | Record Type | Record Performance | Date | Status |
Donatella Ricci | Microlights and paramotors | RGL1 | Altitude | 8 399 m | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |
Donatella Ricci | Microlights and paramotors | RGL1 | Time to climb to height 6 000 m | 25 min 40 sec | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |
Donatella Ricci | Rotorcraft | E-3a | Time to climb to height 3 000 m | 13 min 44 sec | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |
Donatella Ricci | Microlights and paramotors | RGL1 | Altitude | 8 399 m | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |
Donatella Ricci | Rotorcraft | E-3a | Altitude without payload | 8 399 m | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |
Donatella Ricci | Microlights and paramotors | RGL1 | Time to climb to height 3 000 m | 13 min 44 sec | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |
Donatella Ricci | Rotorcraft | E-3a | Time to climb to height 6 000 m | 25 min 40 sec | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |
Donatella Ricci | Microlights and paramotors | RGL1 | Time to climb to height 3 000 m | 13 min 44 sec | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |
Donatella Ricci | Microlights and paramotors | RGL1 | Time to climb to height 6 000 m | 25 min 40 sec | Nov 8, 2015 | Current Record |