On 10 April, at 09:32 the airship left the ground at its birth airport, Rome Ciampino. It starts up the engines and, flying over the Appia Antica, it begins his journey to the North Pole.
I said goodbye to everyone, at 09:30 I got on board. Two minutes later, I gave the starting signal. Freed from the grip of the men who held it by the ropes, the ship lifted slowly, solemnly, amid a clamor of greetings and cries of good wishes
UMBERTO NOBILE, IN VOLO ALLA CONQUISTA DEL SEGRETO POLARE. DA ROMA A TELLER ATTRAVERSO IL POLO NORD, A. MONDADORI, 1928 MILANO, P.167 (Quote translated by Roberta Rodelli)