Aeronautics, the Historical Museum of Vigna di Valle celebrates 90 years of the speed record
The Museum boasts the largest collection of hydrofoils in the world, including the record-breaking one with the original engine.
ROME – Exactly 90 years ago, on October 23, 1934, at the seaplane base of Desenzano del Garda, home of the High Speed Department, Marshal Francesco Agello, at the controls of a Macchi MC.72, set the world speed record with 709.202 km/h, a record that remains unbeaten today for seaplanes with traditional piston engines. Agello’s feat, which falls within the golden age of records and records that the then Royal Air Force was the protagonist of throughout the world between the 1920s and 1930s, was remembered in recent days at the Historical Museum of Vigna di Valle, which includes the largest collection of hydrofoils in the world including the record with the original engine, with the event ‘Rosso Corsa – the myth of speed’, a series of initiatives organized in collaboration with the National Museum of the US Air Force and the Ferrari Museum.
And it is precisely from the Maranello collection that Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari 126CK – 1980 arrived in Vigna di Valle – where it will remain on display until November 3 – which was the protagonist of a historic challenge with an F-104 interceptor fighter of the Italian Air Force on the air base of Istrana in the distant November 1981, as well as other precious objects and racing clothes of Charles Leclerc.
A union, that between the Air Force and Ferrari, that comes from afar, from the famous Prancing Horse of Francesco Baracca, donated by the mother of the Aviation Ace after his death to Enzo Ferrari, as a symbol of good luck for the fortunes of the then nascent Modena car manufacturer. A bond of history and symbols, therefore, under the sign of ‘Rosso Corsa‘, the color that identified Italian aircraft in the aeronautical competitions of those years and that would later also become the characterizing color of Italian motorcycles and cars in the race. A connection dotted over the years with events, partnerships and, indeed, extraordinary challenges between cars and planes: the one in 1981 with Villeneuve was followed, in fact, by another, equally iconic one, on 11 December 2003 at the military airport of Grosseto, between Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2003 Ga and a Eurofighter fighter plane.
The anniversary of the record was the occasion to inaugurate a special museum itinerary, under the sign of the racing red colour, of speed and of Italian excellence, through which visitors will be able to retrace the technological evolution in the aeronautical field – from the dawn of the history of flight to the present day – as well as experience first-hand the deep bond and the engineering and industrial fervour that, especially between the two world wars, characterised many areas of the our country, first and foremost the aeronautical and motoring one. For the occasion today, Saturday 26 October, the doors of the ‘Luigi Bourlot’ airport in Vigna di Valle, the oldest seaplane base in Italy, will open to the public with free admission from 10.00 to 18.00 with guided tours, play areas for children, gaming areas and stands dedicated to graphic novels and 3D modeling and printing.
The commemoration of the record began on 23 October with the official opening of the museum route dedicated to speed, which took place in the presence of the Commander of the Rome AM Command, Air Squad General Giandomenico Taricco, and the Head of the fifth Communication Department of the Air Force General Staff, General B.A. Urbano Floreani, with a specific focus on schools. Over 300 students from various secondary schools in Rome and the province, welcomed by the Commander of the Vigna di Valle Historiographic and Sports Center, Colonel Dario Bovino, and the Museum staff, were able to experience a day of study and in-depth analysis of the ‘myth of speed’ and the historical and technological elements of an enterprise like that of Francesco Agello and many other aviation pioneers of his time. On this occasion, a competition was also officially launched, conceived and promoted by the Air Force Historical Office in collaboration with the Lazio Regional School Office, open to all regional schools, precisely to promote reflection and increase knowledge on these historical issues. On Thursday 24th, instead, a meeting was held between historians, academics and representatives of the industry and important international museums to analyze – from a historical and scientific perspective – the Italian tradition and excellence in the hydro-racing sector.
The Cssam (Historical and Sports Center) of Vigna di Valle is located on the shores of Lake Bracciano, in a natural setting of rare beauty and hosts two unique entities of the Air Force: the Musam (Historical Museum of the Air Force), has the task of disseminating aeronautical culture, the history and traditions of the Armed Forces. As part of the celebrations for the Centenary of the establishment of the Air Force, it has been expanded and completely renovated and can now be visited according to the methods indicated on the official website. Since its reopening in May 2023, it has already seen well over 100,000 visitors. The Air Force Sports Center contributes to the protection of the national sports heritage through careful research into the best talents of national and international interest. Thanks to a top-level staff, it ensures athletes adequate support during all phases of competitive preparation and contributes to their technical development both on a practical and theoretical level.
(Photo by Alan Wilson)
