 This idea developed into the "Four Continents" flight of 1927, intended to demonstrate the ability of a flying boat to fly from Italy to Africa and across the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil, followed by several stops in South America and the Caribbean, a tour of the United States and Canada, and a transatlantic flight back to Europe ultimately ending in Rome.Pinedo, his copilot "Capitano" (Captain) Carlo Del Prete, and mechanic Vitale Zacchetti embarked on the "Four Continents" flight in the Savoia-Marchetti S.55 flying boat "Santa Maria" under Pinedo's command.Leaving Cagliari, Sardinia, on 13 February 1927, they stopped at Villa Cisneros in Spanish Sahara and Bolama in Portuguese Guinea before attempting to take off from Bolama on 16 February to cross the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil.