The Aeronautical Academy celebrated the 90th anniversary of its founding
Livorno was chosen as the first location, already home to the Naval Academy, and Captain Giulio Valli, a distinguished officer with great charisma, was appointed as the first Commandant of the Institute. The problem of an alternative location arose immediately, as the number of students was expected to increase significantly, saturating the logistical capabilities of the Naval Academy and, therefore, after only two years of presence in Livorno, the location was established in Caserta, in a wing of the Vantiverian Royal Palace, where the Naval Academy remained for about twenty years. Tragic events of the Second World War forced the staff of the permanent staff and the students of the ongoing courses, “Zodiaco” and “Aquila II”, to reach the Aeronautical College in Forlì in a long convoy of vehicles. The continuation of the war prevented the normal running of the academic year and, due to the approaching of the German troops to Forlì, the students were forced to temporarily settle in the Brindisi headquarters. This period proved difficult for several reasons and the relocation to a “autonomous” but temporary location was a primary objective at the beginning of 1945. The return to Caserta was not possible as the Royal Palace was occupied by the Allied headquarters and therefore the choice was made of the island of Nisida, home of an old hydroplane base that could temporarily accommodate the Institute. The relocation from Nisida to Pozzuoli, the current location of the Aeronautical Academy, took place in early 1962 in a new state-of-the-art architectural complex, designed in detail to make the life of the students and the regular running of the courses functional.
Today, the Air Academy is an institution of university status with the task of training all future Officers of the Armed Forces capable of managing men, means and resources to operate in inter-service and international contexts.
