Laboratory for Impact on Structures in Aerospace (LISA), Italy
December 10, 2009, 9:12pm
x planes
experimental aircraft. exotic aeromachines. oddities. sleek silver cigars. pedal-o-trons. soviet hive-mind bombers. aerial joy. the olden days. action shots. propaganda posters. etc
[xplanes] [at] [hotmail] [dot] [co] [dot] [uk]
Designed by Redfield. Icons by Cameron Hunt.
the Getti Tonanti (Thunder Jet) display team, of the Italian Air Force - that took part in the opening of Olympic Games in Rome in 1960
September 23, 2009, 3:06pm
“Francesco Baracca was the top Italian fighter ace of World War I, with 34 victories.
Whilst with the 91a Squadriglia, known as the “Squadron of the Aces”, he adopted as a personal emblem a black prancing stallion, in tribute to his former cavalry regiment. This prompted some to call him, “The Cavalier of the Skies”.
He failed to return from a mission on June 19th 1918, his body being found a few days later. It is believed he was brought down by ground fire during a low-altitude strafing mission.
His emblem - the “Cavallino Rampante” - was taken from the wreckage, and presented to Enzo Ferrari several years later, who decided to put it to some use…
July 09, 2009, 5:23pm
Italian Air Force Aermacchi MB-339s in close formation with a C-130J, 2005
(photo by Dante Francesco)
July 07, 2009, 1:26pm
An Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 Pipistrello (bat), accompanied by Fiat CR.32 biplane fighters
July 04, 2009, 11:39am
Schneider Trophy special: Epilogue: The human cost
France:
Florentine Bonnet, 1929; Georges Bougault, 1931; Antoine Paillard, 1931
Great Britain:
Sam Kinkhead, 1928; Jerry Brinton, 1931
Italy
Vittorio Centurione, 1926; Salvatore Borra, 1927; Giuseppe Motta, 1929
Tomaso Dal Molin, 1930; Giovani Monti, 1931; Stanislao Bellini, 1931
Ariosto Neri, 1933 (killed flying a training aircraft)
United States of America:
Harmon Norton, 1926; Frank Conant, 1926
The photograph is of the Italian High Speed Flight memorial at Desenzano del Garda, unveiled in 1966.
(by Flickr user “Jabed”)
No pilot actually died during a Schneider Trophy race. The list is of pilots killed in training, or attempting speed records in Schneider aircraft. I compiled it from/checked it against various sources. Please let me know of any errors.
June 10, 2009, 2:32pm
Schneider Trophy special: Epilogue: The final word on speed
Italian test pilot Warrant Officer Francesco Agello, in the Macchi MC.72, 1934
After initial disappointment when the craft was unable to compete in the 1931 Trophy - which Britain went on to win permanently - Agello set an absolute speed record of 440mph (709 km/h) on 23rd October 1934.
The MC.72 had claimed the lives of two pilots back in 1931. Agello was left as the only qualified pilot after his comrade, Lieutenant Stanislao Bellini, died in a (different) training aircraft in 1933.
This record remains the fastest speed ever attained by a piston engine seaplane. After the flight, the MC.72 was never flown again.
(art from Speedbirds. thanks)
June 10, 2009, 1:42pm
