FlyPast 01.2018

88 FLYPAST January 2018

MUSEUMS ITALIAN AIR FORCE MUSEUM

it as far as Bracciano where it
landed in the lake.
It was rescued by local fishermen
and taken to the Vatican, where
it remained for 170 years until
1975, when it was donated to the
museum by the then pontiff Pope
Paul VI.
Another relic of early aviation
on display is also of French design

• a Blériot XI-2, which was the
  first aircraft in history to engage
  in aerial warfare, being involved
  in the Italian war with Libya. On
  October 23, 1911, it took off piloted
  by Captain Carlo Piazza on a
  reconnaissance flight. Two days
  later it was used on a bombing
  mission when Piazza tossed 4.4lb
  (2kg) Cipelli bombs over the side
  of the cockpit – no mean feat in
  such a fragile aircraft. The XI-2 is
  suspended from the roof as you
  enter the hall.
  Most people reading this will be
  aware of the famous Italian car
  maker Ferrari and its distinctive

prancing horse logo. This

legendary emblem was carried

on aircraft flown by the greatest

Italian ace of all, Major Francesco

Baracca, within the family’s

coat of arms. Baracca scored 34

victories, flying both the SPAD

S.VII and S.XIII, but was killed on

June 19, 1918 by ground fire. The

Cavallino Rampante (prancing

stallion) symbol was gifted to Enzo

Ferrari by Baracca’s mother in the

1920s, and has graced the cars

ever since. Two SPAD S.VIIs are on

display, while wreckage from the

count’s crash site is also included.

Interestingly, as Col Roviti

explains, almost all the engines

have been removed from

the aeroplanes on

display and mounted alongside

them on stands. This is a great

idea as it enables visitors to see a

fundamental part of the aircraft

that would normally be hidden

under a cowling.

There are other fascinating

airframes on show, including the

giant Caproni Ca.36, and as an

illustrative guide to the progress

of early Italian aviation, the

Troster Hangar fulfils its purpose

admirably.

The rare Macchi MC-202, of
which only two survive.

Nose detail of the museum’s Ansaldo SVA-5.

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 in the Badoni

Hangar. Note the ‘trademark’ Italian

trimotor confi guration.