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.