"Regia Aeronautica" General Italo Balbo relied heavily on Pinedo's advice when planning and executing the mass formation flights – intended to improve the operational skills of "Regia Aeronautica" aircrews and ground crewmen, showcase the Italian aviation industry to potential foreign buyers of Italian-made aircraft, and enhance the prestige of Benito Mussolinis Italian Fascist government – for which Balbo became famous.Balbo led the first of these, a six-stage, 1,750-mile (2,818-km) circuit of the Western Mediterranean by 61 "Regia Aeronautica" seaplanes – 51 Savoia-Marchetti S.59"bis" and 10 Savoia-Marchetti S.55s – between May 25 and June 2, 1928.