The following is a list of aircraft used by Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) since its formation on June 18, 1946.
Aircraft Model | Aircraft code | Image | Name | Role | 1st flight | Service entry | No. used | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | ||||||||
Aerfer Ariete | — | Ariete | fighter | 27 March 1958 | evaluation | 2 | [1] [2] [3] | |
Aerfer Sagittario 2 | — | Sagittario | fighter | 19 May 1956 | evaluation | 2 | [1] [4] | |
Aeritalia F-104S | — | Starfighter | interceptor | 22 December 1966 | 1969 | 205 | [1] [5] | |
Aeritalia G.222A | C-222A | — | transport | 18 May 1970 | April 1978 | 44 | [6] [7] [8] | |
Aeritalia G.222 RM | RC-222 | — | navigation aid calibration | 18 May 1970 | April 1978 | 4 | [6] [7] [8] | |
Aeritalia G.222 SAA | — | — | firefighting | 18 May 1970 | April 1978 | 4 | [6] [7] [8] [9] | |
Aeritalia G.222 TCM | C-222B | — | prototype demonstrator | 18 May 1970 | April 1978 | 2 | [6] [7] [8] [9] | |
Aeritalia G.222 VS | EC-222 | — | electronic warfare | 18 May 1970 | April 1978 | 2 | [6] [7] [8] [9] | |
Aermacchi AL-60 | — | — | utility | 15 September 1959 | 1962 | 1 | [1] [10] | |
Aermacchi MB-326 | — | — | trainer | 10 December 1957 | 1961 | 135 | [1] [11] | |
Aermacchi MB-326G | — | — | trainer | 10 December 1957 | 1961 | 2 | [11] | |
Aermacchi MB-339A MLU | T-339A MLU | — | trainer | 12 August 1976 | 1979 | 72 | [12] [13] | |
Aermacchi MB-339CD | FT-339CD | — | trainer | 12 August 1976 | 1979 | 30 | [12] [14] | |
Aermacchi MB-339PAN | AT-339A | — | aerobatic | 12 August 1976 | 1979 | 21 | [12] | |
Aermacchi MB-339RM | RT-339A | — | navigation aid calibration | 12 August 1976 | 1979 | 3 | [12] | |
Aermacchi M-345 | T-345A | — | trainer | 1 June 2005 | 2020 | 13 + on order | [15] | |
Agusta A.101G | — | — | transport helicopter | 19 October 1964 | 1969 | 1 | [16] | |
Agusta A.102 | — | — | utility helicopter | 3 February 1959 | 1961 | 3 | [17] | |
Agusta A.105 | — | — | utility helicopter | October 1964 | 1964 | 2 | [1] [18] | |
Agusta A.109 | — | Hirundo | utility helicopter | 4 August 1971 | 1986 | 3 | [1] [19] | |
Agusta AZ.8L | — | — | transport | 9 June 1958 | 1959 | 1 | [1] [20] | |
Agusta CP-110 | — | — | utility | 1951 | evaluation | 1 | ||
Agusta-Bell AB.47 G2 | — | — | utility helicopter | 8 December 1945 | 1954 | 35 | [21] | |
Agusta-Bell AB.47J AB.47J.3 | — | — | utility helicopter | 8 December 1945 | 1954 | 93 | [2] [22] | |
Agusta-Bell AB 204A AB.204B | — | — | utility helicopter | 22 October 1956 | 1963 | 48 | [2] [23] | |
Agusta-Bell AB.212 | HH-212A | Twin Huey | utility helicopter SAR | 1968 | 1975 | 36 | [24] [25] | |
Agusta Sikorsky SH-3D/TS | VH-3D | Sea King | VIP transport | 11 March 1959 | 1975 | 2 | [2] [26] | |
AgustaWestland AW101 | HH-101A | Caesar | combat search and rescue | 9 October 1987 | 8 July 2015 | 12 | [27] [28] [29] | |
AgustaWestland AW139 | HH-139A | — | SAR utility helicopter | 3 February 2001 | January 2012 | 15 | [30] [31] | |
AgustaWestland AW139 | HH-139B | — | SAR utility helicopter | 3 February 2001 | 21 November 2020 | 17 | [32] [33] | |
AgustaWestland AW139 | VH-139A | — | VIP transport | 3 February 2001 | 2012 | 4 | [34] | |
Airbus A319CJ | VC-319A | — | VIP transport | 22 February 1987 | 2000 | 4 | [35] [36] | |
Airbus A340-541 | — | — | VIP transport | 11 February 2002 | 2 February 2016 | 1 on lease | [37] | |
Alaparma Baldo | — | Baldo | utility | 1949 | 1949 | 10 | [1] [38] | |
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 | T-346A | Master | trainer | 15 July 2004 | — | 22 | [39] [40] | |
Alenia C-27J | C-27J | Spartan | transport | 24 September 1999 | October 2006 | 12 | [41] [7] [42] | |
Alenia EC-27J JEDI | YEC-27J JEDI | Spartan | electronic warfare | 24 September 1999 | 2012 | 1 | [43] [7] | |
AM.12 | — | — | Albatross | glider | 1951 | 1951 | 3 | [44] |
Ambrosini CVV.6 | — | Canguro (Kangaroo) | glider | 1941 | 1946 | 32 | [1] [45] | |
Ambrosini SAI.7 | — | — | racing aircraft trainer | July 1939 | 1946 | 154 | [46] | |
Ambrosini S.1001 | — | Grifo (Griffin) | utility | 1947 | 1948 | 3 | [1] | |
Ambrosini Sagittario | — | Sagittario | research aircraft | 5 January 1953 | 1953 | 1 | [47] | |
AMX International | A-11B | Ghibli (Sirocco) | ground attack | 15 May 1984 | 1989 | 110 | [48] [49] | |
AMX International | TA-11B | Ghibli (Sirocco) | trainer | 15 May 1984 | 1989 | 26 | [48] | |
ATR 72 MP | P-72A | — | maritime patrol | 27 October 1988 | 2016 | 4 | [50] [51] [52] | |
AVIA FL.3 | — | — | utility | 1939 | 1946 | 335 | [1] [53] | |
B | ||||||||
Beech AT-7C | — | Expeditor | trainer utility | 15 January 1937 | 1949 | 1 | [1] [2] [54] | |
Beech C-45F | — | Expeditor | trainer utility | 15 January 1937 | 1949 | 124 | [1] [2] | |
Beechcraft Super King Air 350ER | — | Super King Air | SIGINT | 27 October 1972 | 2017 | 2 on lease | [55] | |
Bell 47D-1 | — | — | trainer | 8 December 1945 | 1 February 1953 | 3 | [1] [56] [57] | |
Bell P-39N/Q | — | Airacobra | fighter | 6 April 1938 | 1946 | 170 | [1] [58] | |
Bell OH-13H | — | Sioux | observation helicopter | 8 December 1945 | 1976 | 38 | [1] | |
Boeing 707 T/T | KC-707A | — | tanker transport | 20 December 1957 | March 1992 | 4 | [1] [59] | |
Boeing KC-767 | KC-767A | — | tanker transport | 21 May 2005 | 2011 | 4 | [60] [54] [59] | |
Breda Nardi NH-500E | TH-500B | Defender | trainer liaison SAR | 1976 | 1990 | 50 | [61] | |
Breda-Pittoni BP.471 | — | — | utility transport | 1950 | 1950 | 1 | [62] | |
Breda-Zappata BZ.308 | — | — | transport | 27 August 1948 | 1949 | 1 | [2] [1] | |
Breguet Atlantic | P-1150A | Atlantic | maritime patrol SAR | 21 October 1961 | 1971 | 18 | [63] [64] | |
C | ||||||||
Canadair CL13 Sabre Mk.4 | — | Sabre | fighter | 9 August 1950 | 1956 | 179 | [65] | |
Canadair CL-215-1A-10 | — | — | aerial firefighting | 23 October 1967 | 31 October 1984 | 4 | [66] [67] [68] [69] | |
CANT Z.501 | — | Gabbiano (Seagull) | patrol | 1934 | 1946 | 1 | [70] | |
CANT Z.506 | — | Airone (Heron) | patrol | 19 August 1935 | 1946 | 14 | [71] [72] [54] | |
CANT Z.1007 | — | Alcione (Kingfisher) | trainer | March 1937 | n/a | 1 | [73] | |
Caproni Ca.100 | — | — | trainer | 1928 | 1946 | n/a | [74] | |
Caproni Ca.133 | — | — | transport | 1934 | 1946 | 68 | [1] [75] [54] | |
Caproni Ca.164 | — | — | trainer | 17 November 1938 | 1946 | n/a | [1] [76] | |
Caproni Ca.309 | — | Ghibli (Sirocco) | reconnaissance | 1937 | 1946 | 4 | [1] [77] | |
Caproni Ca.313 | — | — | bomber reconnaissance | 22 December 1939 | 1946 | 80 | [1] [78] | |
Caproni Ca.314 | — | —- | bomber | 1940 | 1946 | 200 | [1] [79] | |
Caproni Trento F-5 | — | — | trainer | 20 May 1952 | 1952 | 1 | [1] [80] | |
Caproni Vizzola Calif | A-21S | Calif | glider | 23 November 1970 | 1977 | 2 | [81] | |
Convair CV-440-75 | — | Metropolitan | transport | 16 March 1947 | 1964 | 1 | [2] [82] | |
Convair CV-440-81 | — | Metropolitan | VIP transport | 16 March 1947 | 1961 | 2 | [2] [83] [84] [54] | |
Convair CV-440-96 | — | Metropolitan | transport | 16 March 1947 | 1957 | 1 | [2] [85] [54] | |
Curtiss SB2C | — | Helldiver | antisom | 18 December 1940 | 1950 | 42 | [86] [1] | |
D | ||||||||
Dassault Falcon 50 | VC-50A | Falcon | VIP transport | 7 November 1976 | 1985 | 4 | [87] [54] | |
Dassault Falcon 900EX | VC-900A | Falcon | VIP transport | 21 September 1984 | 2000 | 5 | [88] [54] | |
de Havilland Vampire FB.5 | — | Vampire | fighter | 20 September 1943 | 1950 | 5 | [89] [90] | |
de Havilland Vampire FB.52 | — | Vampire | fighter | 20 September 1943 | 1950 | 201 | [89] [90] | |
de Havilland Vampire FB.52A | — | Vampire | fighter | 20 September 1943 | 1950 | 51 | [89] [90] | |
de Havilland Vampire FB.54 | — | Vampire | fighter | 20 September 1943 | 1950 | 10 | [89] [90] | |
de Havilland Vampire NF.10 | — | Vampire | fighter | 20 September 1943 | 1950 | 4 | [89] [90] | |
de havilland Venom FB.50 | — | Venom | fighter bomber | 2 September 1949 | 1953 | 2 | [1] | |
Douglas C-47 | — | Skytrain | transport | 23 December 1941 | 1949 | 19 | [1] [2] [91] [92] [54] | |
Douglas C-53 | — | Skytrooper | transport | 23 December 1941 | 1949 | 8 | [1] [2] [54] | |
Douglas DC-6 | — | — | VIP transport | 15 February 1946 | 1952 | 6 | [1] [93] [54] | |
E | ||||||||
Eurofighter 2000 | F-2000A | Typhoon | fighter | 24 March 1994 | 2004 | 81 | [94] [95] [96] | |
Eurofighter 2000 | TF-2000A | Typhoon | trainer | 24 March 1994 | 2004 | 14 | [97] [98] [99] | |
F | ||||||||
Fairchild C-119G | — | Flying Boxcar | transport | 17 November 1947 | 19 May 1953 | 45 | [100] [7] [101] | |
Fairchild C-119J | — | Flying Boxcar | transport | 17 November 1947 | 1953 | 25 | [100] [7] [101] | |
Fairchild UC-61K | — | Forwarder | utility | 1932 | 1947 | 4 | [1] [70] | |
Fiat F-86K | — | Sabre | fighter | 1 October 1947 | November 1955 | 179 | [102] [103] | |
Fiat G.8 | — | — | utility | 24 February 1934 | 1950 | 3 | [1] [104] | |
Fiat G.12 | — | — | transport | 15 October 1940 | 1946 | 35 | [1] [70] [105] | |
Fiat G.46 | — | — | trainer | 25 February 1948 | 1949 | 141 | [1] [106] [107] | |
Fiat G.49 | — | — | trainer | September 1952 | 1952 evaluation | 2 | [108] | |
Fiat G.59 4B | — | — | trainer | 12 September 1951 | 1951 | 74 | [109] | |
Fiat G.80 | — | — | trainer | 9 December 1951 | 1952 | 3 | [110] [111] | |
Fiat G.82 | — | — | trainer | 23 May 1954 | 1954 | 4 | [112] | |
Fiat G.91 | — | — | fighter bomber | 9 August 1956 | 1958 | 31 | [1] [113] | |
Fiat G.91R | — | — | light attack reconnaissance | 14 November 1958 | 1959 | 97 | [1] [113] [114] | |
Fiat G.91 PAN | — | — | aerobatic | 31 May 1960 | — | 16 | [1] [113] [115] | |
Fiat G.91T | — | — | trainer | 31 May 1960 | 1964 | 103 | [1] [113] [116] | |
Fiat G.91Y | — | — | fighter bomber | 27 December 1966 | 1970 | 65 | [1] [113] [117] | |
Fiat G.212 | — | — | transport | 19 January 1947 | 1949 | 44 | [1] [118] [119] [54] | |
Fiat RS.14 | — | — | maritime reconnaissance | May 1939 | 1946 | 6 | [120] | |
Fokker F27-600 | — | Friendship | navigation aid calibration | 24 November 1955 | — | 2 on lease from ATI | [121] [122] | |
G | ||||||||
General Atomics MQ-1 Predator | MQ-1C | Predator A+ | remote piloted aircraft | 3 July 1994 | 2003 | 6 | [123] [124] | |
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper | MQ-9A | Predator B | remote piloted aircraft | 2 February 2001 | 2003 | 6 | [125] | |
General Dynamics F-16A | F-16A | Fighting Falcon | fighter | 20 January 1974 | 2001-2012 | 30 | [126] [127] | |
General Dynamics F-16B | F-16B | Fighting Falcon | fighter | 20 January 1974 | 2001-2012 | 4 | [126] [127] | |
Grob G103 Twin Astir | G-103 | Twin Astir | glider | 31 December 1976 | 1977 | 9 | [128] | |
Grumman SA-16A | — | Albatross | SAR flying boat | 24 October 1947 | 1958 | 13 | [129] [130] | |
Grumman S2F-1 | — | Tracker | ASW aircraft | 4 December 1952 | 1957 | 45 | [131] [132] | |
Gulfstream III | — | — | VIP transport | 2 December 1979 | 1985 | 2 | [1] [133] | |
H | ||||||||
Helio H-395 | — | Courier | liaison | 14 April 1949 | 1961 | 1 | [1] [2] | |
I | ||||||||
IAI EL/W-2085 | G550 CAEW | — | airborne early warning and control | 28 November 1995 | 2016 | 2 | [134] | |
IMAM Ro.41 | — | — | fighter trainer | 16 June 1934 | 1946 | n/a | [135] | |
L | ||||||||
LAK-17 | UG-17A | — | glider | n/a | n/a | n/a | [136] | |
Lake LA-250 | — | Seawolf | utility amphibian | 1982 | 1985 evaluation | 1 | [1] | |
LET L 13 | — | Blaník | glider | 1956 | 1977 | 2 | [1] | |
Lockheed C-130H | — | Hercules | transport | 23 August 1954 | 9 May 1972 | 14 | [1] [7] | |
Lockheed F-5 | — | Lightning | reconnaissance | 27 January 1939 | 1950 | 69 | [1] | |
Lockheed F-104G | — | Starfighter | interceptor fighter | 7 June 1960 | 1963 | 124 | [137] [138] | |
Lockheed RF-104G | — | Starfighter | reconnaissance | 7 June 1960 | 1963 | 20 | [1] [137] | |
Lockheed TF-104G | — | Starfighter | trainer | 7 June 1960 | 1965 | 30 | [1] [137] | |
Lockheed P-38L | — | Lightning | heavy fighter | 27 January 1939 | 1946 | 110 | [139] | |
Lockheed PV-2 | — | Harpoon | patrol bomber | 31 July 1941 | 1953 | 22 | [1] [70] | |
Lockheed T-33A | — | Shooting Star | trainer | 22 March 1948 | 1952 | 60 | [140] | |
Lockheed RT-33A | — | Shooting Star | reconnaissance | 22 March 1948 | 1952 | 14 | [141] | |
Lockheed Martin C-130J | C-130J | Hercules II | transport | 5 April 1996 | 18 August 2000 | 12 | [142] [143] [144] [7] | |
Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 | C-130J-30 | Hercules II | transport | 5 April 1996 | 18 August 2000 | 10 | [142] [143] [54] [7] | |
Lockheed Martin F-35 | F-35A (CTOL) F-35B (STOVL) | Lightning II | joint strike fighter | 15 December 2006 | 3 December 2015 [145] | 3 + 72 on order | [146] | |
M | ||||||||
Macchi C.200 | — | Saetta (Lightning) | fighter trainer | 24 December 1937 | 1946 | n/a | [147] | |
Macchi C.202 | — | Folgore (Thunderbolt) | fighter | 24 December 1937 | 1946 | n/a | [148] | |
Macchi C.205 | — | Veltro (Greyhound) | fighter | 12 April 1942 | 1946 | n/a | [149] | |
Macchi M.416 | — | — | trainer | 18 December 1947 | 1951 | 178 | [150] [151] | |
Macchi MB.308 | — | — | utility | 19 January 1947 | 1948 | 81 | [152] | |
Macchi MB.323 | — | — | trainer | 1952 | 1952 | 2 | [153] | |
Martin 187 | — | Baltimore | bomber | 14 June 1941 | 1946 | 49 | [2] | |
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 | — | — | VIP transport | 25 February 1965 | 12 January 1974 | 2 | [2] | |
N | ||||||||
Nardi FN.305 | — | — | trainer liaison | 19 February 1935 | 1946 | 10 | [1] [154] | |
North American P-51D | — | Mustang | fighter | 26 October 1940 | 1948 | 173 | [1] [155] | |
North American T-6G | — | Texan Harvard | trainer | 1 April 1935 | 1950 | 238 | [1] [156] [157] | |
P | ||||||||
Panavia Tornado ADV | — | Tornado | interceptor | 27 October 1979 | 5 July 1995 | 24 leased from RAF | [1] [158] | |
Panavia Tornado ECR | EA-200B | Tornado | multirole strike aircraft | 14 August 1974 | 27 February 1998 | 16 | [1] [158] | |
Panavia Tornado IDS | A-200A | Tornado | multirole strike aircraft | 5 December 1975 | 1982 | 84 | [1] [158] | |
Percival Proctor | — | — | radio trainer | 8 October 1939 | 1946 | 2 | [1] | |
Piaggio P.136 | — | Royal Gull | amphibian | 29 August 1948 | 1951 | 22 | [1] | |
Piaggio P.148 | — | — | aerobatic trainer | 12 February 1951 | 1951 | 61 | [1] | |
Piaggio P.149 | — | — | trainer liaison | July 1953 | 1953 | 2 | [1] [159] | |
Piaggio P.150 | — | — | trainer | 1952 | 1952 | 1 | [1] | |
Piaggio P.166M | U-166A | — | trainer utility | 26 November 1957 | 1961 | 50 | [1] [160] | |
Piaggio P.166BL2 | — | — | photo survey | 26 November 1957 | 1968 | 2 | [1] [160] | |
Piaggio P.166DL3 | U-166B | — | photo survey | 1978 | 1984 | 6 | [1] [160] [59] | |
Piaggio P.180 | VC-180A VC-180B | Avanti | utility liaison | 26 September 1986 | 1994 | 17 | [161] [59] | |
Piaggio PD.808 | — | — | VIP transport radio calibration electronic warfare utility | 29 August 1964 | 1970 | 22 | [162] | |
R | ||||||||
Republic P-47D | — | Thunderbolt | fighter bomber | 6 May 1941 | 1950 | 77 | [1] [163] | |
Republic F-84F | — | Thunderstreak | fighter bomber | 3 June 1950 | 1956 | 194 | [164] | |
Republic F-84G | — | Thunderjet | fighter bomber | 28 February 1946 | May 1952 | 254 | [165] [166] | |
Republic RF-84F | — | Thunderflash | photo reconnaissance | 3 June 1950 | 1956 | 78 | [167] [168] | |
S | ||||||||
SAIMAN 202 | — | — | liaison | 1938 | 1946 | n/a | [1] | |
Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 | — | Marsupiale (Marsupial) | transport | 1937 | 1946 | n/a | [1] [169] | |
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 | — | Sparviero (Sparrow-hawk) | bomber | 2 September 1935 | 1946 | n/a | [170] | |
Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 | — | Marsupiale (Marsupial) | bomber transport | 30 October 1939 | 1946 | circa 30 | [171] | |
Savoia-Marchetti SM.84 | — | — | bomber | 5 June 1940 | 1946 | 1 | [1] [172] [173] | |
Savoia-Marchetti SM.95 | — | — | transport | 8 May 1943 | 1946 | 7 | [174] | |
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4 | G4-D G4-DM | Nimbus 4 | glider | 1990 | 1999 | n/a | [175] | |
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2 | G-2 G-2B | Ventus-2 | glider | 1994 | 1999 | n/a | [1] | |
SIAI-Marchetti S.208M | U-208A | — | liaison | 1965 | 1967 | 44 | [176] | |
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260AM | T-260A | — | trainer | 15 July 1964 | 1976 | 44 | [177] | |
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260EA | T-260B | — | trainer | 15 July 1964 | 2005 | 30 | [178] | |
SIAI-Marchetti SM.102 | — | — | transport | 1949 | 1951 | 24 | [179] [54] | |
Sikorsky H-5 | — | Dragonfly | utility helicopter | 18 September 1943 | 1952 | 3 | [180] | |
Sikorsky H-19A | — | Chickasaw | utility helicopter | 10 November 1949 | 1954 | 2 | [1] [181] | |
Sikorsky H-19D | — | Chickasaw | utility helicopter | 10 November 1949 | 1954 | 4 | [1] [182] | |
Sikorsky H-34G | — | — | helicopter | 8 March 1954 | 1959 | 18 | ||
Sikorsly HH-3F | — | Pelican | transport SAR | 1959 | 1977 | 35 | [1] [183] | |
Silvercraft SH-4 | — | — | utility helicopter | 1963 | evaluation | 1 | [184] | |
Stinson L-5 | — | Sentinel | liaison / observation / trainer | 1941 | 1947 | 119 | [1] [185] [186] | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk V | — | Spitfire | fighter | 5 March 1936 | 1946 | 33 | [187] | |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX | — | Spitfire | fighter | 5 March 1936 | 1946 | 110 | [188] | |
T | ||||||||
Tecnam P2006T | T-2006A | — | trainer | 13 September 2007 | 5 July 2016 | 3 | [189] [190] | |
Temco T-35 | — | Buckaroo | trainer | 1948 | 1950 | 1 | [1] | |
W | ||||||||
Westland S-51 | — | Dragonfly | helicopter | 5 October 1948 | 1 February 1953 | 2 | [2] | |
The Macchi C.200 Saetta, or MC.200, is a fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Aeronautica Macchi in Italy. Various versions were flown by the Regia Aeronautica who used the type throughout the Second World War.
The Macchi C.202 Folgore is an Italian fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Macchi Aeronautica. It was operated mainly by the Regia Aeronautica in and around the Second World War. According to aviation author David Mondey, the Folgore has been considered to be one of the best wartime fighters to serve in large numbers with the Regia Aeronautica.
The Macchi C.205Veltro was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. Along with the Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55, the Macchi C.205 was one of the three "Serie 5" Italian fighters built around the powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. The C.205 was a development of the earlier C.202 Folgore. With a top speed of some 640 km/h (400 mph) and equipped with a pair of 20 mm cannon as well as 12.7 mm Breda machine guns, the Macchi C.205 Veltro was highly respected by Allied and Axis pilots alike. Widely regarded as one of the best Italian aircraft of World War II, it proved to be extremely effective, destroying a large number of Allied bombers. The Macchi C. 205 proved capable of meeting fighters such as the North American P-51D Mustang on equal terms, which encouraged the Luftwaffe to use a number of these aircraft to equip one Gruppe.
The Royal Italian Air Force (RAI) was the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished and the Kingdom of Italy became the Italian Republic, whereupon the name of the air force changed to Aeronautica Militare.
The Italian Air Force is the air force of the Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica. After World War II, when Italy became a republic following a referendum, the Regia Aeronautica was given its current name. Since its formation, the service has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history. The acrobatic display team is the Frecce Tricolori.
The Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, or Air Force of the South, was the air force of the Royalist "Badoglio government" in Southern Italy during the last years of World War II. The ACI was formed in Southern Italy in October 1943 after the Italian Armistice in September. As by this point the Italian Kingdom had defected from the Axis and had declared war on Germany, the ACI pilots flew for the Allies.
The Fiat BR.20 Cicogna was a low-wing twin-engine medium bomber that was developed and manufactured by Italian aircraft company Fiat. It holds the distinction of being the first all-metal Italian bomber to enter service; at the time, it was regarded as one of the most modern medium bombers in the world.
The National Republican Air Force was the air force of the Italian Social Republic, a World War II German puppet state in Italy.
The Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare was formed as part of the Regio Esercito on 7 January 1915, incorporating the Aviators Flights Battalion (airplanes), the Specialists Battalion (airships) and the Ballonists Battalion. Prior to World War I, Italy had pioneered military aviation in the Italo-Turkish War during 1911–1912. Its army also contained one of the world's foremost theorists about the future of military aviation, Giulio Douhet; Douhet also had a practical side, as he was largely responsible for the development of Italy's Caproni bombers starting in 1913. Italy also had the advantage of a delayed entry into World War I, not starting the fight until 24 May 1915, but took no advantage of it so far as aviation was concerned.
Furio Niclot Doglio, MOVM was an Italian test pilot and World War II fighter pilot in the Regia Aeronautica. Doglio set nine world aviation records in the 1930s during his time as a test pilot. During the war, he claimed seven kills, flying FIAT G. 50s and Macchi C. 202s, establishing himself as one of Italy's aces. Doglio was killed in combat on 27 July 1942 during the Siege of Malta by George Beurling, who became Canada's top ace of the war. He was awarded a Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare alla memoria.
Luigi Gorrini, MOVM, was an Italian World War II fighter pilot in the Regia Aeronautica and in the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. During the conflict, he flew with the Corpo Aereo Italiano during the Battle of Britain, fought over Libya and Tunisia, and was involved in the defence of the Italian mainland. Gorrini is believed to have shot down 19 Allied planes, and damaged another 9, of several types: Bristol Beaufighter, Bristol Blenheim, Curtiss P-40, Spitfire, P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt, B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator. He piloted the biplane Fiat C.R.42 and monoplanes Macchi C.202 and C.205 Veltro. With the Veltro he shot down 14 Allied planes and damaged six more. At the time of his death, he was the only surviving fighter pilot awarded the Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare.
The Italian Air Force Museum is an aircraft museum at Vigna di Valle, on Lake Bracciano (Lazio), in central Italy. It is operated by the Aeronautica Militare. The museum's collection has an emphasis on Italian machines and seaplanes. While maintaining the technical and historical aspects, the museum is also dedicated to the influence aviation has had on Italian art, featuring works by Futurist painters Pietro Annigoni, Giacomo Balla, and Tato; and contemporary art such as Flight: Papiers froissés by Antonio Papasso.
Leonardo Ferrulli was an ace of the Regia Aeronautica, and a recipient of the Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare. He was credited with 22 air victories, one during the Spanish Civil War and 21 during World War II. He shot down Hurricanes, P-40s, P-38 Lightnings, Spitfires and B-17s, flying Fiat C.R.42 biplanes and Macchi C.200/202 monoplanes. His unit was 91a Squadriglia, 10° Gruppo, from 4° Stormo, one of the top-scoring fighter units of Regia Aeronautica.
Guido Fibbia was an Italian Second World War fighter pilot in the Regia Aeronautica and in the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. He was credited with 9 enemy planes shot down flying with biplanes Fiat C.R.32, Fiat C.R.42 and monoplanes Macchi C.200, C.202, C.205, Fiat G.50, G.55 and the German Messerschmitt Bf 109. He was decorated with two Silver Medal of Military Valor, one Bronze Medal of Military Valor, one Croce di Guerra and one German Iron Cross 2nd Class.
The Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics is Italy's oldest aviation museum, as well as the country's oldest corporate museum. It was established in 1927 as the Caproni Museum by Italian aviation pioneer and aeronautical engineer, Giovanni Battista "Gianni" Caproni and his wife, Timina Guasti Caproni.
Giuseppe Cenni was an Italian officer and aviator. A Major in the Regia Aeronautica, he is a legend of the Italian Air Force: he was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor and six silver medals for military valor, 2nd class German Iron Cross, the transition to effective permanent service and two promotions for war merit, three Crosses to the merit of war; more than 200 war actions, 750 hours of war flight out of a total of 1,460; two wars fought as a protagonist, eight victories in Spain, where he is among the best hunting aces, facing even seven months of very harsh imprisonment, and in the Second World War he is the undisputed ace of dive bombing; he endured the combat loss, in the last war, of 19 pilots, 16 crew members and 13 specialists from her own department; at just 28 years old, he is the youngest Stormo commander of the Regia Aeronautica, Stormo who will be one of the few to be decorated with a gold medal; in seven years he passed from second lieutenant to major in effective permanent service, acting as lieutenant colonel; aerobatic instructor and champion in gliding, where he won national titles and was part of the Olympic group.
Teresio Vittorio Martinoli, MOVM, was an Italian World War II fighter pilot in the Regia Aeronautica and in the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (ICBAF). During the war, he fought over Libya and Tunisia, in North Africa, on Malta, and was involved in the defence of the Italian mainland. Martinoli has been credited with 22 air victories and 14 shared destroyed in 276 sorties. Flying the Fiat C.R.42 biplane and Macchi C.202 and C.205 monoplanes, he shot down: a Gloster Gladiator, Bristol Blenheims, Hawker Hurricanes, Curtiss P-40s, Spitfires, a P-38 Lightning, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, and a Junkers Ju 52, the last after the Armistice of Cassibile.
Amendola Air Base is a military airfield of the Italian Air Force. It is the home of 32nd Wing.
The 32nd Wing "Armando Boetto" is a military aviation unit of the Italian Air Force, equipped with both attack aircraft (F-35A) and unmanned aerial vehicles for ISTAR missions.