The P.111 was designed in 1938 as a high-speed, high-altitude bomber with a pressurized crew compartment. The sole example first flew in April 1941. It was only used as a research aircraft and scrapped in 1943. The P.108C airliner variant of the four-engined Piaggio P.108 bomber was designed to have cabin pressurization, although that was perhaps never installed. Photo from: Dan Shumaker collection

Developed by Caproni Bergamaschi, the company's Bergamo branch, the Ca.310 was a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft first flown on 20 February 1937. Large numbers of Ca.310, Ca.311, Ca.312, Ca.313 and Ca.314 models were ordered as combat, maritime patrol or training aircraft by Italy, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Peru, and even France, Britain and Germany. Due to world events, many of the orders were not fulfilled, while the planes were strongly disliked in Hungarian, Norwegian and Swedish service. Serial MM20809 confirmed beyond doubt by another photo. Ca.134 MM330 is on the left. 'Dux' is the Latin form of Duce. Photo from: Fondazione Fiera Milano

Two-seat strategic reconnaissance type, although Flight called it an army cooperation aircraft. One 900-hp Asso XI engine. The first of two airframes. The second was MM502. Tail in foreground of MM20903. Photo from: Fondazione Fiera Milano

Preserved on a pole in its original 50yrs anniversary color scheme adopted in 1999. It was withdrawn from use in September 2000 and planned to become a preserved aircraft at Pratica. In the summer of 2002 it was mounted on a pole at Pratica.

Seen here, just parked into the 20 gruppo maintenance hangar that morning.

Aircraft is seen here stored outside. It had been sustained severe damage by the fallen roof of the hangar during a big storm on 25 November 2001 breaking also the rear canopy glass. It was officially declared written off on 10 December 2001.

Base Tuono is a fascinating Cold War relic - a preserved Nike air defence missile site high in the mountains near the Passo Coe. The museum has this beautiful Starfighter which has been repainted in the colours it wore when it was delivered to 50° Stormo at Piacenza in 1972 as a new F-104S. The aircraft got its own building and the museum intends to add an F-86K Sabre according to a 2020 report.

Owned by the Italian Air Force Museum.

Preserved inside a private garden in the hills of Cerveteri, Italy. Aircraft has the nose from F-104S MM6836.

Seen here wfu at the storage area of 4 RMV at Grosseto.

Cockpit section of Starfighter MM6714. It has a mounted CFE-plate from another F-104S (MM6741).

Squadron exchange with F-4F Phantom aircraft at Hopsten (JG72).

Seen wfu among many more aircraft near the 4RMV at the storage area.

Ex German Air Force F-104G 26+28.

The sole example of the Ca.123, a civil variant of the equally unsuccessful Ca.122 bomber. It is described as a mailplane or as an airliner for eight to twenty passengers plus three crew. Two 780-hp Gnome-Rhône 14K engines. I-DRIA is a Ca.308 Borea six-passenger aircraft. Reportedly the Ca.306 prototype of the Ca.308 was on display at this 1935 show, but I-DRIA is c/n 3. Photo from: Fondazione Fiera Milano

Designed as a fighter, the Ansaldo SVA found a role as a reconnaissance aircraft, having very good performance and long range. Piloted by Gino Allegri, 11777 took part in a famous leaflet raid to Vienna on 9 August 1918. The SVA.5 was a single-seater but a two-seat SVA.9 carried the inspirator of the raid, the nationalist and poet Gabriele D'Annunzio.

MM56237 is this 'Caproncino' floatplane's true original military identity. It also flew as I-DISC at the Aero Club Como.

Served in the Italian air force as MM52-7471. Preserved between Lake Garda and Verona at a pizza restaurant.