The saga of aviation in Trentino

Planes come back to life

Entering Alessandro Marangoni's hangar means taking a journey through the different eras of flight. From the Yak 52, a Soviet-built aircraft used in the 1960s for training military pilots, to the Piper L-4H, an aeroplane deployed during the Battle of Sicily that has a long history to tell, as it was used for reconnaissance and providing information from above to artillery.

'Military aircraft,' Alessandro explains, 'are easier to manoeuvre than 'normal' aircraft. This is because, in the hectic moments of battle, you have to focus on so many variables. It is not enough to keep the aircraft on the right course'.

The highlight of the collection is a replica of a historic Caproni Ca. 100 from the late 1920s, early 1930s. It is a faithful reconstruction with some original parts, such as the engine, which is from 1934.

"It is an aircraft that I care a lot about, because Gianni Caproni represents the history of aviation. Everything begins with him'.

Flying in Trentino: it all began with Count Caproni

Se il Trentino può vantare una lunga tradizione legata al volo, soprattutto in montagna, lo si deve alla figura storica di Giovanni Caproni. Ingegnere e progettista, mecenate e imprenditore, alla ricerca dell’armonia perfetta tra materiali e forma. 

If Trentino can boast a long tradition linked to flying, especially in the mountains, it is thanks to the historical figure of Giovanni Caproni, an engineer and designer, patron and entrepreneur, in search of perfect harmony between materials and form.

He is considered one of the pioneers of aviation and founder, with his brother Federico in the early 20^th century, of one of the aeronautical companies that made the history of aviation.

Trentino celebrates his figure with the Gianni Caproni Aeronautical Museum in Trento, which has over ten aircraft on display. These include some priceless pieces such as the Ansaldo S.V.A. 5, a biplane that made history for participating in D'Annunzio's feat over Vienna, or pioneering aircraft such as the Caproni Ca.6 or the Caproni Ca.9, which first flew in 1911.

The museum is a veritable encyclopaedia of aviation history of both Trentino and Italy. And thanks to various initiatives, including workshops, games in the museum, conferences and meetings with experts, it manages to involve a vast public, from school students to adults.

Unfortunately, however, Alessandro recalls: "At the museum, the aeroplanes are stationary, while they are meant to be living creatures that need to move, to soar. It is a mix of smells, noises, maneuvers in the air. This is what constitutes the essence of flying.’

Thus, in 2015 Festivolare was born, the Trentino AirShow that brings the present and the past of aviation into the air.

Festivolare

Everything came to be thanks to Kilometro Azzurro, a network of companies that promotes and disseminates aviation culture in Trentino, of which MUSE, Fondazione Museo storico del Trentino, Italfly, Lagorair/E+S and KBS Italia are members.

Festivolare, born in 2015 to celebrate the centenary of Commander Francesco Volpi, has now become an unmissable end-of-summer event for the curious and enthusiasts of the world of aviation.

Two days in which entertainment, culture, and innovation intertwine. Interviews with experts and protagonists of the world of aviation, guided tours of the museum and, above all, exhibitions of aircraft from the present and the past. A great festival to immerse yourself in the history of aviation and discover the most cutting-edge developments in aviation technology.

This is how the museum's history takes flight.