Italian Aviation Museum June 2023

[planecrazy]

The fast stuff, again a large collection just a selection of the many fast jets,
was surprised to learn the Italians entered the key age in the early 40s.

Caproni Campini CC.1, first flew in 1940 used a piston engine in combination
with a compressor, combustion chambers and exhaust system.




De Havilland DH-113 Vampire.


Lockheed RT-33.


Canadair CL.13 Mk.4, F-86E Sabre


Republic F-84G Thunderjet.


Republic F-84F Thunderstreak.


Lockheed (Fiat) F-104G Starfighter. Later versions of these where made under
licence, the last on flying with the IAF in 2004.


Front on you can see where the “missile with a man in it” nick name comes
from, also note the very small and thin wing.


Fiat Aviazione G-91R.


Port side is cutaway to view the internals.


Two seat Fiat Aviazione G-91T.


Fiat Aviazione G-91PAN in the famous Frecce Tricolori colours.

[Antonio]

Now THAT is a fantastic example of a real display aircraft.
There should be more of these out there.

[planecrazy]

Agreed Antonio that exposed frame Fiat is great, some of the later model jets.

Aermacchi MB-326.


Frecce Tricolori Aermacchi MB-339PAN.


Later model jets to follow……

Alenia/Aermacchi/Embraer AMX a Braizilian/Italian joint venture with parts
built in both countries.


Panavia Tornado F.3 ADV.
[

Another joint venture manufactured by Italy, United Kingdom and Germany,
the Italian and Royal Air Force flew these in the 1991 Gulf War.




F16 A/B, whenever I see one of these I always think of the "what if" with the RNZAF.


Two tone grey is also perhaps how they would have been delivered to the RNZAF?




Last batch off pic's heli's and what's outside to finish off.........

[oj]

Thank you so much for these photographs.
I had no idea of such variety.
Were I there, I would need probably at least twenty minutes per aircraft to settle down each overcoming of awe before moving to the next.

[davidd]

Reason the SM 79 (and probably some other Italian types) had the type of exhaust manifold noted (manifold also forming leading edge of the tubular-type engine cowl) was that the engine fitted was a license-built Bristol Pegasus, as fitted in such standard British types as a large proportion of the RAF's Wellingtons, Hampdens, all the early Sunderlands, Wellesleys, Wapiti, Vincents and Vildebeests, Swordfish, etc. The similar but smaller Mercury was fitted to Blenheims, Gladiators, etc. The Italians later manufactured a kind of double row Pegasus (18-cylinder twin row) which also used the same trick of using exhaust manifold as was case with the earlier engines, although I think the exhausts from rear row probably had to have more conventional rearward-facing manifold, but I stand to be corrected. The Bristol engine company in the UK never bothered trying to build a double-row Pegasus, but went in a different direction by embarking on new adventures with the introduction of sleeve valves in lieu of the conventional poppet valves for all later engines, such as Hercules, Taurus, Centaurus, Perseus, many of which were of the two-row configuration.

[planecrazy]

Love how these threads offer up information and as a result you learn something
you never knew, thanks for your contribution Davidd.

Last of this visits pic's, been to a few museums in my time, this collection is up
there as one of the best, not only the presentation and space also the condition
of the machines and of course the diversity and rarity of the displays.

Bell AB-47G.


Bell AB-47J.


Bell AB-204B.


Grumman HU-16A Albatross.


Anyone have an idea what the bracket on the side of the door is for, JATO perhaps?


Grumman S2F-1 Tracker.


Breguet 1150 Atlantic.


Douglas C47A Skytrain and the seaplane lift.

Did a little walk around with my video camera, please excuse the commentary
and pronunciation.



Also below a great site for reference to the collection.
www.targeta.co.uk/vigna_di_valle1.htm

[Antonio]

Yay, another cutaway, just like the G91.

[nuuumannn]

Excellent to see your images Peter, and nice to see the changes they made since the renovations. Good to see the Reggiane aircraft finally on display, they weren't when I was last there. The SM.79 has had a much-needed overhaul, the wooden fuselage sides were cracking and delaminating so it was needed. It's worth noting that the Vampire in the museum is the only Vampire NF.10 night fighter in a complete state, there are pods and other bits surviving, but this is the only complete one.

[planecrazy]

Jul 19, 2023 8:56:44 GMT 12 nuuumannn said:

Excellent to see your images Peter, and nice to see the changes they made since the renovations. Good to see the Reggiane aircraft finally on display, they weren't when I was last there. The SM.79 has had a much-needed overhaul, the wooden fuselage sides were cracking and delaminating so it was needed. It's worth noting that the Vampire in the museum is the only Vampire NF.10 night fighter in a complete state, there are pods and other bits surviving, but this is the only complete one.

Thanks so much, I use awesome too much, this place is up there if you are going to rate aviation museums.

Thanks for pointing out the Vampire details, you will see in my walk around video at around 15.53 I query the
perspex shroud at the rear of the cockpit, I suspect this may be a night fighter feature.

This forum is great for learning stuff, a credit to Dave and the mods, the people who attend and comment.

Thank you all........