The 2014 edition of Aerophilatelia Day took place in Como on September 20th, hosted by the “Club Esperia 1919 – Philately and Collecting” and the “Aero Club of Como”.
The Esperia Club was born in 1919 as a sports association, to which in 1945 some philately and numismatic collectors joined, who gave life to a Philatelic Section, which over time, after a period of maximum expansion, has remained the only activity of the Club. So, in June 2006, merging into a new association, the Philatelic Section gave life to the current “Club Esperia 1919 – Philately and Collecting”.
In recent years the Club has organized various exhibitions, giving particular importance to the memory of local events and in 2014, through its President, Oliviero Amoroso, decided to host AIDA for the realization of the “46th Day of Aerophilatelia “, in memory of the 85th anniversary of the event aimed at raising awareness among the population on the need to create an Aero Club in Como.
For this occasion, the President of Esperia Club gave the possibility, to all fans of the area, to admire a selection of the major aerofilatelic collections which, for the first time, were exhibited in the hangar of the Aero Club of Como, between seaplanes.
The members who gathered in Como were thus able to relive distant memories, that is, when seaplanes were the pride of Italian engineering, known all over the world thanks to the flights of De Pinedo and Balbo. They were able to admire the hydro at the Como Aero Club up close and this was, without a doubt, a unique experience, practically impossible to relive, at least in Europe.
Here is the list of exhibitors:
• AMOROSO ANDREA: “The seaplane of 1917. The Naples-Palermo-Naples airmail experiment”
• CATTANEI RAIMONDO: “Italy-Switzerland flights”
• GOTTARDI BOBERTO: “Here Palermo-Punta Raisi. Welcome to Sicily! “
• GREPPI ITALO: “Selection of first flights to and from Italy carried out by Italian and foreign companies”
• LEVERA GUIDO: “In the sky of Lithuania”
• MILANESI CARLO: “International Air Tour of Sicily”
• MONTAGNA EMANUELE: “Airports”
• NEGRO VITTORIO: “Eating while traveling: food at high altitude”
• REITER BRUNO: “Wright Brothers: anniversaries in stamps”
• STELLA ANTONIO: “Italian Air Force Missine ISAF – Afghanistan”
• VALCARCELL NICOLA: “Zeppelin NT The new technology at the service of charity”
Andrea Amoroso’s collection dedicated to the flight of the Naples-Palermo-Naples seaplane in 1917 aroused much interest. The other collections also aroused much curiosity given the different themes dealt with.
In addition, Mr. Cesare Bay, president emeritus of the Aero Club, presented a selection of his vintage postcards, from all over the world, illustrated with seaplanes.
Take-offs and landings of the various hydro that competed for the “Grand Prix of the Six Lakes”, namely the lakes of Como, Montorfano, Alserio, Pusiano, Annone and Garlate, took place throughout the day on Saturday.
A postcard was published by the “Club Esperia” reproducing the poster dedicated to the promotion, in 1929, of the new Aero Club.
Our association has also created a special postcard, depicting a work by the Cremonese painter Giuseppe Castellani.
As usual, a detached post office worked in the premises of the Exhibition, to stamp out the special postcards (see images below) published for the occasion, with the special cancellation made on the initiative of our association and depicting a seaplane.
Como Aero Club – A little history
The Como Aero Club is a non-profit sports association that manages the oldest hydro flight organization in the world (the first flights are in 1913, the construction of the hangar and the flight school in 1930).
Como has now become the European capital of hydro flight, frequented by pilots from every country, who here learn to fly on seaplanes of all kinds, both those with floats and those with hulls.
The Club offers flying courses, introductory courses and test flights, as well as flights for cultural organizations, for the study from above of elements of special interest, in the fields of industrial archeology, Romanesque architecture, modern architecture and others .
Seeing one of the most beautiful territories in the world from above is an exhilarating experience, appreciated by adults of all ages and particularly formative for children.
The satisfaction of the hydro flight also lies in the high safety of the seaplane and in the very low environmental impact, operating these air vehicles without the need for any infrastructure other than the very natural water, which is left after use exactly as before.
The Club makes the hangar available for cultural and convivial events, it is part of the Civil Protection system, has agreements with various public bodies and carries out various types of charitable operations. Furthermore, it offers guided tours, test flights and offers young people the opportunity to carry out a highly educational activity in a healthy and interesting environment.