Today I made the effort to visit the Museo Nazionale Della Scienzia e Della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci (to give it´s full name) in Milan. While there are not that many aircraft on display in the museum, the ones that are there, are very interesting and well worth a visit. The museum is located right in the center of Milan, and is well served by public transport. For me, the easiest way to get there was on the Metro M2 and the station you need to get out is S. Ambrogio but buses 50, 58 and 94 also stop close to the museum. If you plan on visiting, please note, that the museum is closed on Mondays (as I´ve found out previously!).
The museum compound is HUGE and covers a lot of interesting stuff (it even has it´s own submarine), most of which I didn´t have the time to explore due to time constraints. The aviation part of the museum is relatively small, and would not be easy to find if it were not for directions printed in italian AND english through out the compound.
Outside the main building there are three jet aircraft, and inside the exhibits are displayed in a cronological order if you walk clock wise around the display area. All exhibits have caption boards in both italian and english, which is quite unusal in this part of Europe!
Please note, that all the pictures were taken by a point and shoot camera, by a bad operator in sometime challenging condition, so they are not up to the standard to expected on the forum 😯 😆
To start the tour, these are the machines displayed outside.
A Fiat G-91. A lot of these seem to be knocking about in Europe
Then a Republic F-84 Thunderstreak. There seems to be quite a lot of them around as well!
A North American F-86 D is not seen that often. I think this is the first time I´ve seen one in the flesh. An interesting side note, is the fact that my long suffering First Officer thought it looked like a Mustang without even knowing what it was!
Inside the real treasure trove awaited. Unfourtunately, the Bleriot XI was positioned in such a way it was almost impossible to get a clear shot of it. this is the best I could manage!
Then there was a replica of a 1909 Farman hanging from the ceiling. For some reason it looked “wrong” to my eyes. I´m no expert on Farmans, but it looked too short coupled for some reason.
By: pagen01 - 29th April 2010 at 23:02
It used a piston engine to drive ducted fans inside the fuselage to compress air that was then mixed with fuel and ignited to create the expansion of air for propulsion.
I can’t think why that idea didn’t become more widespread:eek:
Nice pics.
By: DaveM2 - 29th April 2010 at 22:57
I believe there is another J-4 on display at the Canadian National Museum and a fuselage at DTM Berlin.
Dave
By: karlio - 29th April 2010 at 22:56
is the gold plated lambretta still in there.and the macchi 205 is just stunning.
By: galdri - 29th April 2010 at 18:29
One of the more significant aircraft to be found in the museum is the Campini Caproni. The information boards refer to this as the first jet aircraft in the world, but in my view it is a sort of half way house between a jet and a piston. It used a piston engine to drive ducted fans inside the fuselage to compress air that was then mixed with fuel and ignited to create the expansion of air for propulsion.
In this frontal shot, the first stage of the ducted fan is visible
A better view of the front fan
Inside the fuselage looking forward. With all these tubing in the airflow, it must have been quite turbulent flow in there.
The tailcone
I´m guessing this to be the spraybar for the fuel in the aft part of the fuselage.
Another very interesting exhibit on show was the fuselage of a Junkers J-4 armoured ground attack aircraft of WW I. I think I´m correct in saying that it is the only example to survive. It was a bit crowded around it, so getting pictures was a bit of a bother.
Some of the original instruments they have been able to find for the aircraft.
By: John Aeroclub - 29th April 2010 at 10:33
The rather odd Farman, is I suggest a replica using the flying surfaces of a later type such as the Lucciole.
John
By: DaveM2 - 28th April 2010 at 23:45
This MC.205 did fly at one time, but was damaged in a taxi accident in 1986.
Dave
By: galdri - 28th April 2010 at 22:14
To represent the war years, they have a fantastic Macchi 205 on display. To my eye it is one of the most beautiful fighters of the Second World War. I just wish there was one flying, how beautiful would that be!
For the post war years they had this stunningly beautiful SAI Ambrosini Super S7. I have to admit not having seen an aircraft like that before, but it sure is beautiful and with performance to match it if the information boards are to be believed. All made of wood!
By: galdri - 28th April 2010 at 22:13
There were some aircraft engines on show to highlight the development in aero engines. Most of them were inaccessible for photography, but I did manage to get this Antoinette engine pretty well, if I do say so myself! It produced all of 24 horsepower!
Now it is the inter-war years. First up is this Breda 15
Next up in the Magni P.M 3/4 Vale. An aircraft I´d never seen before, it was apparently a sports and training aircraft built in 1934.
Now for something less obscure! The Cievera Autogyro
By: galdri - 28th April 2010 at 22:12
Next up is the Macchi Nieuport Ni-10. Somewhat confuseingly the information boards present this machine as THE first Nieuport built by Macchi. In my mind, without having investigated further, I would say that something was lost in translation and what they actually mean is that this is the first aircraft TYPE built by Macchi.
The next aircraft is a complete mystery to me. I´ve never heard of it before and never seen anything like it before. It is the Ricci 6. The information board was of no help, as clearly the Italian and English versions were for different aircraft judging by the years mentioned on them! I believe this is a replica that was flown at some point. Any information appreciated!
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April 28, 2010 at 10:11 pm