Sponsored by REGGIANI S.p.A. Illuminazione - Milano, Italia
Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00. Closed on Christmas, Jan 1st, Nov 1st.
Phone: 0461-944888
Transports: By car, some 8Km South of Trento
Trento-Mattarello Airport hosts the modern and valuable Caproni Aeronautical Museum. Founded by Countess Maria Fede Caproni, last daughter of the famous Italian aircraft designer, the Museum is a collection of rare and sometimes unique aircraft, mainly of Italian design and production.
The best piece is a SIAI-Marchetti SM-79 bomber, built in 1942 and equipped with three Alfa Romeo 950HP radial engines: after serving in Royal Italian Air Force on the African front, this example survived armistice and the chaotic days which divided Italy in two parts, operating with Italian Co-belligerant Forces. After the war it was sold to Lebanon, where has been operated until late '60 and then abandoned in an hangar.
The aircraft has been found there some years ago, and has been dismounted and taken to Italy for restoration with the collaboration of Italian Air Force: even if the engines had been started and gear retraction tests performed before dismounting, it was not possible to restore the craft to flying status because of heavy damages operated by non specialized personnel during the dismounting work.
Aircraft, as recognizement to Lebanese Government, is now painted in last camouflage of Lebanian Air Force.
A web site (http://www.mtsn.tn.it/caproni/caphome.html) has been recently activated and is worth visiting.
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