![]() |
The FIAT G.91R/1 MM6265 N.C.31 was built in 1959 and assigned to the GAVS Torino in 1992 as a type of “paid loan”. On November 19, 1992 the two fuselage sections arrived at the “Cantiere Aeronautico N° 1” from the Treviso Air Base. The wings followed on February 10, 1993 and the four components were assembled on April 17. The aircraft was ready to be put on display inside the “Cantiere” hosted by the Revelli Metallik plant in Leinì. It was a very peculiar G.91. Despite it being the first series production item of the G.91R/1 version fitted with a photographic nose, it sported a solid nose typical of the PAN version for the Frecce Tricolori national aerobatic team, and a domed canopy installed in the ‘Sixties, completely different from that originally installed. The Martin-Baker Mk.4 ejection seat initially present on the G.91’s was fitted with the QRF (Quick Release Fasteners) and a mechanism which allowed the pilot to bend forward without unlocking the safety harness. It is worth of mention that the first successful ejection with the Mk.4 occurred on March 16, 1957 when commander Riccardo Bignamini, during a test flight with the (true) first prototype, experienced a severe flutter phenomenon. In all, 42 Italian Air Force pilots saved themself ejecting from 35 further G.91R’s and G.91T’s. The last safe ejection occurred on November 23, 1989. In 1966 the new Martin-Baker Mk.6 began to be retrofitted on all the G.91 single-seat and G.91T two-seat of the first and second batches. The new ejection seat was series equipment for the third batch G.91T/1 produced in the 1972-1974 period. Due to the major dimensions of the new system, some modification of the cockpit were necessary, the most evident being the bubble canopy. The aircraft received by the Turin Branch of the GAVS was painted silver without any of the symbols and inscriptions usually founds on the outer surfaces. It was evident that, for unknown reasons, someone had attempted to emulate the appearance of the initial prototype. To this end the “3” had been cancelled from the true construction number 31 painted on the rear fuselage. One of the few “authentic” items, and one which revealed the intention to deceive was the presence of the true Matricola Militare, the serial number of the N.C.31. To further confuse the issues, large fake markings 5-265 had been painted on both sides of the fuselage! Unfortunately GAVS Torino was not allowed to intervene to restore a minimum of technical and iconographic reality to this historic aircraft. Despite the fact that no official dedicated documentation was available, the operational career of the aircraft was traced through various sources. After four years of service with the IAF’s 2nd Wing at Treviso Air Base, in 1964 the G.91 was converted to the PAN (Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale) configuration with smoke system and conic nose, as were the prototypes and pre-series items. Then it was assigned to the 313th Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico based at Rivolto Air Base. The aircraft was reported as “Pony 4” in 1967, “Pony 5” in 1976 and “Pony 4” again from 1979 to 1980 when the Frecce Tricolori transitioned to the new Aermacchi MB-339. At this point the aircraft was returned to the 2nd Wing and identified as 2-61 but without regaining its photographic capability. In that period the reconnaissance missions were performed by the 3rd Wing Starfighters equipped with the Orpheus recce pod. Finally the custom built G.91 was recoded 2-73 from 1982 to 1983 when it was de-registered due to expired life time or decommissioning of the type from the IAF ranks. In compliance with the armament reduction agreements which followed the demise of the Soviet Union in 1990, the 2nd Wing G.91’s (contrary to those of other types such as the Amendola-based G.91T’s) were not cut into pieces but simply dismantled into their main parts. Later they were assigned to various entities for long-term preservation using parts chosen somewhat haphazardly. By convention, the surviving G.91’s are identified by the construction number stamped on the identification plate inside the front fuselage. At the beginning of the ‘Eighties, GAVS Turin was committed on various fronts on behalf of the IAF. In particular it was restoring the propeller of the WW2 Reggiane Re.2001 fighter recovered from the sea near Sardinia and was transforming a wrecked FIAT G.59 into an earlier G.55 Centauro (now on display at the Vigna di Valle Museum). In 1994 the IAF’s General Staff sent Colonel De Lorenzo of the Historical Office to Turin on a fact-finding mission. In 1995 Major Anzellotti, Deputy Director of the Historical Museum paid a similar visit. They both verified the correct preservation of the G.91. GAVS Turin had obtained the G.91 through a contractual rental agreement through a deposit and annual fees regularly paid to the Air Force. Early in 2003 it was announced that, due to a procedure change for disposals, the aircraft had to be returned to the Military Administration. It seems strange that a meritorious voluntary association like GAVS Turin, who had done so much to restore it, for some unknown reason was not allowed to buy it. To avoid the loss of such an important item, GAVS Turin asked the Department of Aeronautic and Space Technologies of the Turin Polytechnic to contact the IAF to buy the aircraft on its behalf. The deal, favoured by the upcoming “CentenARIA” event, was positively concluded and the G.91 was incorporated in the Polytechnic’s Giuseppe Gabrielli Collection. The economic support of the Rotary Club Torino Est was significant in the transaction, following which, the aircraft was indefinitely entrusted to the care and custody of GAVS Turin. Thus, between October 6 and 12 of 2003, the G.91 was the main protagonist of the exhibition “Torino 2003 - In Volo dalla Storia al Futuro”. This was just a part of the “CentenAria” event organized by the Turin Polytechnic and the local aviation industries to celebrate three centenaries - the first powered flight by the Wright brothers and the birthday anniversaries of designer Giuseppe Gabrielli and professor Carlo Ferrari. In 2005 Revelli Metallik closed and the Cantiere Aeronautico N°1 was forced to move to a smaller location. Before being loaned to Leonardo Aircraft, the G.91 was dismantled again and temporarily stored in the warehouse of the Polytechnic Museum. With the help of Aeritalia, in 1991, GAVS Turin had already recovered other G.91/R1 components including a Bristol Orpheus turbojet, a number of external tanks, brake parachutes and examples of the three different Vinten cameras originally installed in the nose from the Treviso air base. (Aeromedia)
|
|
|