The exhibition in the former royal palace – September, 20 – October, 20 1960
The first air circuit in Milan in 1910 and the first flight across the Alps that accompanied it, were the fundamental theme of the exhibition set up in the former royal palace. On this occasion, the Italian pioneers of flight and the first steps of aeronautical construction in Italy were also remembered.
Despite no Italian made airplane took part in the Circuit, they nevertheless wanted making know the intelligent and courageous efforts and attempts undertaken by passionate and enthusiastic Italian manufacturers. Some of these, persevering tenaciously, succeeded in creating a national aeronautical industry of high prestige; others were forced to give up despite having achieved important results of general interest.
A technical reconstruction of these airplanes has been made, necessarily limited to those models for which sufficient documentation has been found. In the absence of this, unfortunately it was necessary to give up reproducing other models, even important and famous ones.
The Sala delle Cariatidi was dedicated to the Crossing of the Alps made by Geo Chavez, on 23 September 1910 and tragically in the sky of Domodossola. The aircraft on display faithfully reproduced the Blériot Xl monoplane used by Chaves in that flight.
The following rooms presented the following aircraft, built by Italian pioneers of the time, in the form of models accompanied by drawings and technical data.
- Faccioli Aristide (Torino, 1909) – Biplane with SpA Faccioli engine
- Santoni-Franchini (Milano, 1909) – Biplane with Alfa engine
- Bossi-Mojoli (Milano, 1909) – Biplane with Zust engine
- Calderara Mario (1909) – Goupy-Colderara biplane
- Guidoni (La Spezia, 1909) – Biplane Farman seaplane
- Caproni Gianni (Trento-Milano, 1910) – Biplane with Miller engine
- Tonini Alessandro (Milan, 1911) – “Monorebus” monoplane with Rebus engine
- Gabardini (Novara, 1910-14) – Monoplane with Gnome engine
- Verza (Pordenone, 1912) – “Friuli” monoplane with Anzani engine
- Luzzatto (Milan, 1913) – SlA monoplane with Gnome engine
One room illustrated the Milan Air Circuit (September 25 – October 2nd, 1910); with reproductions of documents and with the description of the most important events that took place in those days.
In one preceding only a series of photomontages were exhibited with which the technical development achieved in 1910 was presented and summarized.
At the end of the exhibition, the room was dedicated to the great Enrico Forlanini with authentic relics, photographs and various documents.
Other photographs in the same room reproduced the aircraft of those pioneers of flight, of which it has not been possible to find a sufficiently precise documentation.
Below you can browse the brochure prepared for the occasion, which illustrated the event, including the program of the same and a small essay in memory of the Peruvian pilot Geo Chavez.
