nuuumannn Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Hi, images from the Italian military aviation museum on the shore of Lake Bracchiano, north of Rome. Although in the region of the village of Vigna di Valle, it is located on the lake shore and is equidistant in the opposite direction to the town of Bracchiano. This site is quite historic and was one of the first landing grounds in Italy, for airships and balloons, becoming a seaplane base as well, where, during WW2 this enormous crane was used to hoist flying boats and floatplanes out of the lake. Grumman Albatri were based here for SAR duties. HU-16 Crane The waterfront flying boat park and jetty, with watch tower. Lago di Bracchiano Barchina Idroplano hydrofoil driven by an aircraft engine. Barchina Idroplano Captured Austro-Hungarian Lohner flying boat, with SPAD VII, Macchi-Hanriot HD.1 and Ansaldo SVA behind. Lohner front Caproni Ca.36. Caproni Ca.36 Schneider Trophy winning Macchi M.39. M.39 World Speed Record holding Macchi MC.72. MC.72 The MC.72's Fiat AS.6 V-24 engine. Fiat AS.6 IMAM Ro.37 found in Afghanistan and rerstored. Ro.37 rear Fiat CR.42. CR.42 front Caproni Campini CC.2 hydrid jet. Its compressor, seen below it was driven by a piston engine. Caproni Campini CC.2 There are three of Mario Castoldi's fighter designs on display in the museum; Macchi MC.202. C.202 nose Macchi MC.200. MC.200 side Savoia Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero. SM.79 CANT Z.506 Airone. These were kept in this very hangar during WW2 after being lifted out of the lake by the crane outside. Z.506 nose Fiat G-91Y. G-91Y Licence built F-104S, with F-86, AMX, Tornado F.3 and Frecce Tricolori G-91PAN. F-104S First Italian aircraft to exceed the speed of sound, the Aerfer Sagittario II. Sagittario II Frecce Tricolori MB.339. MB.339 More images here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/147661871@N04/albums/72157712453495152/with/49307751233/ For those of you wanting to make the trip there, and I would highly recommend it, a few tips. Conventional wisdom says to catch a train to Vigna di Valle and attempt to catch a taxi from the cafe. Don't get off at Vigna di Valle, as the taxis often refuse to go out there from Bracciano, which is where they come from. Go straight to Bracchiano; there are almost always taxis at the train station and they will charge only 15 Euro to go to the museum. You can also organise a return trip with the same driver. Trains to Bracchiano are also more frequent from Rome. There is a bus from Bracchiano, but, don't be tight, it's only a 30 Euro round trip and the museum is free. Thanks for looking. 20 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Looks like a great museam. Some lovely aircraft. Thanks for posting, and for the tips on travel. Maybe one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 2, 2020 Share Posted January 2, 2020 Very nice. Another very interesting museum, with a fantastic model display too, is located alongside Milan-Malpensa airport. I went there a year or so ago with Giorgio @Giorgio N. The mix of interesting Itslism machines is wonderful. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted January 2, 2020 Share Posted January 2, 2020 I agree that Vigna di Valle is excellent. The MC72 is a fantastic highlight, and makes me think of an airborne Ferrari. Not sure that bolting 2 V12s together was quite in the siprit of the rules though...! Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 2, 2020 Share Posted January 2, 2020 (edited) Looks like an excellent museum Might be worth a weekend trip from Greece. Thanks for the reconnaissance! Edited January 2, 2020 by John D.C. Masters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 Wow what a great museum, really glad to see they've got a Tornado F.3 there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 I spent half a day there a few years ago, had the place to myself, my wife spent the time in the cafe and reading beside the beautiful lake, and watching the Canadair water bomber doing practice water pick-ups. A really great museum and you have almost unlimited access to the exhibits, obviously not climbing on them but I was able to get under and behind most of them, Taxis fro Bracciano are reliable but don't try to get one in siesta time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I did not know the CC 2 was there. I thought that it was in Rome. Or are there two of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Looks like a fantastic museum! AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 On 2/15/2020 at 1:12 PM, John R said: Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I did not know the CC 2 was there. I thought that it was in Rome. Or are there two of them? There's only this one. It's not in Rome but is not too far from the city and is in the same "provincia" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Thank you John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now