[1] On 6 May 1921, after four hours of instruction and over the objections of her male colleagues, Carmela Combe had her first solo flight in a Curtiss Oriole.
On 9 July, after transporting money to pay the wages of farm workers in San Vicente de Cañete, she had to make an emergency landing in Chorrillos due to an engine breakdown.
[5] The incident was reported by El Comercio as "Pilot Moore and Miss Carmela Combe fall from high altitude.
[7][8] She traveled to France, where she married Julio Bardi, and was able to fly alongside the famous pilot Marcel Doret [fr].
[1][9] Twenty-two years later, on 27 September 1982, the Ministry of Aeronautics presented her with the Jorge Chávez Dartnell merit medal for her contribution to the development of civil aviation.