90 FLYPAST January 2018
MUSEUMS ITALIAN AIR FORCE MUSEUM
providing a genuinely fascinating
display.
You can’t help but notice how
bright this space is – natural
light floods in through the fully
glazed door and roof. This is not
necessarily a good thing, as Col
Roviti points out, as some of the
fabric-covered aircraft, including
the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 have
become more fragile as the sun
dries out the dope. Measures are
now in place to reverse any damage.
The building has also retained
some of the seaplane recovery
gear built into the floor when it was
constructed in the 1930s. However,
this is now covered by a large metal
plate by the main doors.
Enthusiasts will instantly
recognise the Spitfire Mk. IX, P-51D
Mustang and C-47 Skytrain, but it’s
the indigenous designs that are the
most intriguing, particularly the
Macchi MC.202 Folgore and MC.205
Veltro. Both are – like many Italian
airframes of that era – exceptionally
rare, with just two examples of
the MC.202 in existence, the other
being housed at the National Air
and Space Museum in Washington,
America.
Three giants tower above the
other exhibits here. The CANT
Z.506, the last of which was based
at Vigna di Valle in 1965, Fiat’s
impressive G.211 and the SIAI SM.82.
The trio, together with the SM.79,
also illustrate the Italian penchant
for using a trimotor configuration.
Directly off this area is the Skema
Hangar, which houses aircraft used
by the Italian Air Force from the
1950s until the present day. This
contains an impressive array of
types, not only from Italy, but also
the United States and Great Britain,
both of which supplied military
aircraft to Italy in the post-war and
Cold War eras.
With 13,779sq ft (4,200sq m) of
space, this is the largest and most
recently added of the displays.
There are several early American jetaircraft here including one each of
the Republic F-84 family: the F-84G
Thunderjet, F-84F Thunderstreak
and RF-84F Thunderflash.
There are also single examples
of North American’s F-86E and ’K
Sabre variants – the former was
built by Canadair and the latter by
Fiat under licence in Italy. A solitary
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter is also
present.
Those interested in British design
will be drawn to a rare de Havilland
Vampire NF.54, one of 14 delivered
to Italy in 1953. It was intended that
more would arrive, but the air force
changed its mind and the F-86K
Sabre took over the night fighting
role instead, with the Vampires
being rapidly phased out.
As you would expect, Italy’s own
designs dominate, with pride of
place being given to the famous
Fiat G.91 family. Examples of the
G.91R, ’T and ’Y models are on
show, together with a PAN variant
specially developed for, and usedby the famous Frecce Tricolori
aerobatics team. The G.91 is widely
seen as the design that put Italy’s
post-war aviation industry back
on the map, and was followed by
equally capable jets, including
Macchi’s MB.326, which is also
displayed.
There are some fascinating
prototypes in the top gallery of the
hall, including Aerfer’s Sagittario II
and Ariete jets – the former being
the first Italian jet to break the
sound barrier on December 4, 1956.
Both are, interestingly, powered by
the Rolls-Royce Derwent Mk.9, the
same tried and trusted design used
on Britain’s Gloster Meteor NF.14
night-fighter.
With over 80 aircraft and flying
objects on display, the museum
at Vigna di Valle truly does have
something to satisfy the most
ardent of aviation enthusiasts and
provides a unique opportunity to
see Italy’s contribution to aviation
heritage in one location.On display in the Velo Hangar is the
Macchi M.39.
An eye-catching Aermacchi MB.326 in the Skema Hangar. The Fiat G-91 family is well-represented at the museum. This is the G-91T training variant.
“Italy’s own designs dominate, with pride of place given to the famous Fiat G.91
family. It is widely seen as the design that put Italy’s post-war aviation industry
back on the map”