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Another vintage plane, a unique piece:

Gabardini Idrovolante by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

For decades we believed not even a single Ro 37 survived. Then a few wrecks were fund in a scrapyard near Kabul. One was quickly "acquired" by a British guy and as far as I know it's now in Spain, where it should be restored (the Ro 37 fought during Spanish Civil War). The other wrecks were collected by the Italian Air Force, one was assembled outside the Italian embassy in Kabul, the rest shipped to Italy.

Volandia contributed to the restoration of this plane and got permission to keep it on display for a limited period. The plane is now at Vigna di Valle (near Rome), inside the Italian Air Force Museum.

IMAN Ro 37bis by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

Macchi MB 326 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

Macchi MB 339 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

Piaggio P.166 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

There are no complete Reggiane Re 2002 survivors, this fuselage and another wreck in France are pretty much all what's left:

Reggiane Re 2002 fuselage by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

This diorama tries to reproduce a tragic, but fascinating story. In 1960 a crash landed SM 79 was fund in the desert, you can read the whole story here (sorry, Italian only):
it.wikipedia.org/wiki/...l_MM_23881

Savoia-Marchetti SM 79 wreck by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

- Massimo_Foti

This diorama tries to reproduce a tragic, but fascinating story. In 1960 a crash landed SM 79 was fund in the desert, you can read the whole story here (sorry, Italian only):
it.wikipedia.org/wiki/...l_MM_23881

Savoia-Marchetti SM 79 wreck by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

My electric assistant offered to help:

"The aircraft with the serial number 23881 MM is tied one of the most famous mysteries of the aircraft disappeared during World War II, very similar to the one involving the Consolidated B-24 Liberator U.S. Lady be Good, who died in April 1943. July 21 1960s, some of the technical CORI company of the ENI group found the skeleton of an airman, identifiable by uniform buttons next to the track they were traveling between Gialo and Giarabub. In addition to a flare gun on the skeleton there was a key with a metal plate that says S.79 MM 23881. The plate recognition identified him as John Romanini, first of Parma, airman, just belonging to the crew of MM 23881. After more than two months, October 5th, another team found the remains of an aircraft, clearly a SM.79, on which is visible (four out of five digits) the serial number and the identifier of the squadron, the 278 th Torpedo Bombers. The history of the aircraft is: April 21, 1941, MM 23881, under the command of Captain Oscar Cimolini pilot, takes off for a mission from Berka aerosiluramento, lags behind its companion mission, Lieutenant Robone. The latter will be able to torpedo the goal of the mission, a steamer of about 8,000 tons and back with no problems, while the MM 23881 disappear into thin air, ending up in the list of the missing with his crew: in addition to Cimolini, sergeant pilot Barro, Lieutenant observer Franks, sergeant radio operator De Luca, 1st engineer blocks airman, airman 1st gunsmith Romanini. [27] [28]
Reconstruction made of Volandia as it appeared at MM 23881

The wreckage of the plane was in good general condition, with damage to propellers, the nose and broke the legs of the strength of the truck, apparently to extract the landing, which have broken wings. The plane was then landed with the engines running. You can not say if the two-way radio worked during the flight, but in fact the aircraft crossed the coast to wander in the desert for more than 400 km. Romanini then went in search of relief, but died in the attempt, while the rest of the crew died on the spot. But the reason why the crew did not realize the gross error of course can never be fully explained"

SH-3D by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

SIAI S-211 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

Stinson L-5 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

This Texan was recently recovered and restored, a pretty neat job from what I was able to see:

T-6 Texan by Massimo Foti, on Flickr

It's all for now, you can see the whole set here:
www.flickr.com/photos/...340232743/

Massimo

I did a quick visit today. Some great new stuff on display:

- A nicely restored FIAT G.46
- An F-84F and F-86K that used to be at Museo della Scienza in Milano (outdoor) moved to Volandia (indoor)
- A quite rare Aermacchi AL-60

Pictures will follow soon

Massimo

Agusta A104 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr