The Museum will reopen to the public within the first decade of May, after more than 18 months of work during which the exhibition route has been completely renovated, with the addition of new artefacts and further aircraft, and the creation of new modern and multimedia museum spaces.
Today, Wednesday 3 May, a Vineyard of the Valley, on the banks of the Lake Bracciano, in the presence of authorities, guests, and members of the press, the ceremony to present the modernisation and redevelopment works that have affected the Italian Air Force Museum, which is part of the initiatives for the Centenary of the Air Force which is being celebrated in this 2023.
The event was presided over by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Marshal General Luca Goretti, with the participation of Inspector General (ret.) Basilio Di Martino, President of the “Italian Air Force Centenary Committee” programme office, and numerous civil, religious, and military authorities; among the distinguished guests was also the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Giorgio Mulè.
Many new things have interested the Museum, which after about 18 months of work its exhibition space has been expanded by 30%, bringing it to over 16,000 square metres overall, consolidating its position among the most important aeronautical museums in the world. The Vigna di Valle Historical Museum, opened in 1977, is situated on Italy's oldest aeronautical site.; its origin, in fact, is linked to one of the fathers of Italian aviation, the Major Maurizio Moris, who in 1907 created the Experimental Aeronautical Shipyard there and in 1910 the Airship Pilot School. The “Umberto Nobile” documentation centre is also located within the Museum.
a completely new visual identity, with a logo stylised in a way that iconically recalls one of the symbols of Italian aeronautical ingenuity and the history of the Armed Force, the’SIAI S.55 flying boat and an exhibition route structured in chronological order through five pavilions. Thanks to the work of a Scientific Technical Committee and the support of both external experts for scientific curation, setup and graphics, and engineers and specialised personnel from the Armed Force, existing spaces have been redesigned – placing memorabilia and aircraft in a more rational and functional manner – and new spaces have been created, with screens and multimedia areas, flight simulators, a cinema, relaxation areas for visitors, and evocative connecting tunnels between the hangars with the original shape of an aircraft cockpit.
Not only aircraft and memorabilia, but many new features have affected the museum's structures, which has undergone deep redevelopment: new air conditioning systems, new LED lighting systems, new two-tone flooring and, as mentioned, a new exhibition route. A reception centre has been created, adjacent to the visitor car park, which will serve as an information point before the start of the visit and where an aeronautical items shop will also be located; the construction of a new double-span pavilion has also allowed for more space. Furthermore, an old warehouse near the main hangar has been completely redeveloped and designated as a multi-purpose area displaying engines, uniforms and memorabilia, educational areas, exhibition rooms and a multimedia zone with flight simulators and virtual reality.
“The occasion of the Centenary, a particularly symbolic date, has been seized to revisit the Museum”emphasised the Chief Inspector General Basilio Di Martino in his opening speech at the ceremony.“To redesign the collections, re-propose them in a key aligned with modern museum science concepts: this is what has been done, also taking the opportunity for infrastructural upgrades to bring it in line with the latest regulations. The goal is to have a museum system that encourages visitor interaction.”General Di Martino then commented: “In a museum like this, the future, the present and the past are intimately connected. History offers us an interpretive key that uses the insights gained from the past to interpret the present and the future. Dominating all of this is a drive towards technology, because the Air Force cannot help but be a technological excellence, and this inevitably projects it towards the future.“
Then took the floor the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Luca Goretti: “This ceremony holds extremely high symbolic value, but it is also substantial because today the Air Force honours its history and the deeds of all those who chose to serve their country in the sky-blue uniform, living, fighting, and in some cases making the ultimate sacrifice, using some of the aircraft and artefacts preserved within these glorious and renewed Hangars.”He then continued by saying: “Through a collective effort by the entire Armed Force, we have renewed the home of our history so that in the coming decades it can welcome all those who seek deeper understanding and are interested in discovering the values and traditions of an institution that is both centuries old and simultaneously young, dynamic, vital, and technologically advanced.“. Gen Goretti concluded: “A museum is an educational place par excellence, especially for new generations and for young people who are forming their conscience and intellect. It speaks a simple language and uses a universal code that not only knows no borders, but often transcends them. This represents a concept very close to air travel.“
The museum houses exquisite and unique pieces, from Garnerin's balloon, the oldest existing aeronautical relic in the world, skilfully and patiently restored under the supervision of Superintendency of Cultural Heritage who also oversaw the restoration of the SIAI S.79 Sparviero.
A one-of-a-kind collection with circa 80 aircraft on display. From the Blériot, to the Austro-Hungarian Lohner flying boat, then on to racing seaplanes: Vigna di Valle is the aeronautical museum that boasts the largest number of racing seaplanes on display, among which the Macchi MC.72 stands out, holder of the speed record for seaplanes with an average of over 709 km/h. The tour continues with the IMAM Ro.37 and Ro.43, the FIAT G.212, the last multi-engine aircraft built by FIAT, the SIAI SM.82 and the CANT Z.506, which served at Vigna di Valle with Air Rescue. There are also early post-war and current jets, with particular attention to missions outside national borders, the Italian Air Force aerobatic team, helicopters and paratroopers of the Italian Air Force. The Museum also houses new aircraft in the section dedicated to the modern era, such as the Tornado IDS in desert livery, the Eurofighter and the HH-3F and AB-212 helicopters.
The Historical Museum will open to the public within the first ten days of May: details of the opening will be advertised through the Italian Air Force's website, the Centenary App and all of the Armed Force's social media profiles.
New developments also for Entrance ticketIn order to improve the quality of services provided, and drawing inspiration from the numerous requests and suggestions that visitors have brought to our attention over the years, the management of the Museum will be entrusted to a specialised company identified by Defence Services Ltd, the body responsible for the management and enhancement of Ministry of Defence structures, which has already started a procedure to identify the economic operator to whom the museum activities will be entrusted. The first Shop MUSAM, inaugurated today, is the symbol of this synergy between the Air Force and Defence Services for the enhancement of the cultural heritage of the Armed Forces, through the creation of iconic products that tell the story of Military Institutions.
For the renewal and redevelopment of the Vigna di Valle Historical Museum, the Italian Air Force extends its public thanks to Avio Aero, which, as a financial sponsor, has contributed to the realization of the project.
