Does 1938 Altitude record still stand?

[barnbstormer]

I was just researching some signed items by Italian Gen. Mario Pezzi.

Is it possible that the World's Altitude record for manned, piston driven, propeller aircraft, that he set in 1938 (as a Lt. Col.) at 56,046 feet, still stands?!

Did he take part in Italo Balbo's Mass flights of that Era?

[DB2]

Technically I believe beaten in 1995 by the Grob Strato 2C

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grob_Strato_2C

[barnbstormer]

Thank you DB2.
yes, a new record of just under 61,000 ft. in 1995. from Lt. Col. Pezzi's 56,046 feet back in 1938.

Both were very admirable achievements

[ChrisK48]

I looked for that Grob record on the FAI website and couldn't find it. I wonder if it is certified.

Pezzi's record is there, although the class it was in is no longer used.

[robkamm]

the plane had 2 conti 550 engines and a pw127 turbo prop ? did they switch engine for high altitude?

[shrike]

the plane had 2 conti 550 engines and a pw127 turbo prop ? did they switch engine for high altitude?

The P&W was there just to provide manifold pressurization for the piston engines. There is precedent. There was a high altitude aircraft circa 1940 that used three DB601's. One ran a blower to feed air to itself an the other two engines (posibly cabin pressure too)

[old iron]

So, what became of the Glob Strato 2C. In a museum somewhere? If so, where?

[robkamm]

Thank you for the explanation. pretty neat. how was it done in 1938? oxygen tanks?

[shrike]

Henschel HS130E was the one I was thinking of Three DB605s.

It seems it was done originally in 1918 with Zeppelin-Staaken that had an engine solely to run a big blower, so there is one more precedent. And all German too