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Post by nuuumannn on Jan 2, 2022 20:14:30 GMT 12
I thought you Aussie Legends might want to see this piccie taken at Coolangatta back in the mid 1980s of Guido Zuccoli's Fiat G.59. Zuccoli Fiat Been posting stuff on the G.59 elsewhere, although this isn't Guido's aircraft. These two were taken at Duxford in the late 90s, can't remember when exactly. I-MRSV i I-MRSV ii
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Post by ZacYates on Jan 3, 2022 13:51:23 GMT 12
Guido competed at Reno 1987 in the Fiat, I believe not long after Sanders finished the restoration. He finished ninth in the Silver race.
I always loved the WW2-inspired camouflage scheme and was very impressed by the single-seat conversion Aerotech developed to make it better resemble a G.55 fighter. Today the former VH-LIX is flying in Europe after a thorough restoration by MeierMotors and looks rather nice:
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Post by nuuumannn on Jan 4, 2022 9:45:08 GMT 12
Guido competed at Reno 1987 in the Fiat, I believe not long after Sanders finished the restoration. He finished ninth in the Silver race. I always loved the WW2-inspired camouflage scheme and was very impressed by the single-seat conversion Aerotech developed to make it better resemble a G.55 fighter. Today the former VH-LIX is flying in Europe after a thorough restoration by MeierMotors and looks rather nice: That's cool to see Zac, I wondered what happened to the aircraft. Great to see its being kept flying. I chatted to Zuccoli about his Sea Fury once at Coolangatta as a very young lad, he was happy to pose for photos before darting off in it, although he got rather frustrated as the Centaurus refused to start!
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 4, 2022 11:05:07 GMT 12
Guido was a great guy. I was fortunate enough to be invited by him to fly in the Fiat at Narromine at a rather famous "non-gathering" weekend of warbirds. Everyone was there and it was flat out warbird flying. I also remember a group of us talking at Scone including Guido, Bruce Andrews, Jack McDonald and I asked Guido why the Sea Fury drop tanks were red and not camouflage. He simply said, "...it takes big ba#*s to fly a Sea Fury...".
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Post by nuuumannn on Jan 4, 2022 12:12:54 GMT 12
Guido was a great guy. I was fortunate enough to be invited by him to fly in the Fiat at Narromine at a rather famous "non-gathering" weekend of warbirds. Everyone was there and it was flat out warbird flying. I also remember a group of us talking at Scone including Guido, Bruce Andrews, Jack McDonald and I asked Guido why the Sea Fury drop tanks were red and not camouflage. He simply said, "...it takes big ba#*s to fly a Sea Fury...". Awesome, Peter - cool quote. I was far too young to be fraternising with adulty people and talking openly about their warbirds when I met Guido, I was barely 17 and was wrestling with the controls of a Tomahawk on a regular basis at Coolie in a vain attempt at becoming a pilot, but he seemed very chill at the prospect of a lanky kid wearing a tie dyed Led Zeppelin T-shirt approaching him and asking about his rather large and impressive aeroplane. I did like watching him flying the G.59, I saw it at Archerfield and was very impressed, having never seen one before and looking quite different to the Spitty that was flying around at the time.
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 4, 2022 17:09:17 GMT 12
Guido had a great sense of humour. Despite his passing Lynette has continued on the tradition. She is absolutely lovely and a very, very talented artist.
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Post by vultee43 on Jan 4, 2022 20:53:01 GMT 12
Guido was such a great pilot and fantastic to any who approached him. Met him a a few occasions and was very giving of his time to a young avgeek. His aircraft collection was brilliant as well. The G.59 was a favourite of mine in the 90's warbird scene but I must say 'Ciao Bella' was better in polish than camo. If I get time I will dig out my photos and add to the thread.
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Post by chbessexboy on Jan 4, 2022 21:01:03 GMT 12
Is it true Guido painted it in camo because he was sick of it being called a Mustang, or is that urban legend?
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 4, 2022 22:17:02 GMT 12
No....urban legend.....he and friend Pino had the only two flying
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Post by nuuumannn on Jan 6, 2022 17:50:54 GMT 12
Please feel free to post photos of the G.59 here. It's a beauty of a thing. I have no more of Guido's but here are a couple of the one at the Italian air force museum on the shore of Lago di Bracchiano. G.59 nose G.59 tail
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 6, 2022 19:42:44 GMT 12
Fiat made some really nice looking fighters... till the jet age...
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Post by typerated on Jan 6, 2022 20:07:41 GMT 12
Au contraire Fiat G-91!
Well remember their last visit to the UK,
Superb crews and some magically enthusiastic flying – never be allowed these days!
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Post by planecrazy on Jan 6, 2022 23:43:49 GMT 12
Here's an, all be it, poor quality shot of Guido's Fiat in the early 1990's at the Harvey Bay Airshow, I remember she had an extra canopy so she could be made to look like a single seater as well.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2022 9:47:23 GMT 12
Guido's Fiat appeared in the James Belushi remake of the Bogart classic film 'Sahara', dressed up as a WWII Fiat G.55.
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 7, 2022 12:42:54 GMT 12
Didnt know that one Dave. Shall have to look it up and watch.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2022 14:06:39 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 7, 2022 14:10:51 GMT 12
That clip shows the Fiat's appearance. The original 1943 film was much better. But they used a P-51 as the enemy aircraft in the original, from memory, so it's a nice touch having the Fiat in it.
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 8, 2022 10:12:12 GMT 12
Thanks Dave......
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Post by nuuumannn on Jan 8, 2022 14:27:18 GMT 12
Fiat made some really nice looking fighters... till the jet age... They did indeed! CR.32. CR.32 CR.42. CR.42 ...And of course the beauty the G.59 is based on, the G.55. G.55 I am with Typerated on the G.91 though, it has a beauty of its own, looks a bit like an F-86D. G-91Y Gatow 75 Gatow 08
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2022 14:36:56 GMT 12
Nah that G.91 is hideous in my opinion.
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