Aeroplane to Aeroplano

              This a mainly photographic post, but it is significant because these pictures are relatively rare and they were probably never published in the Unites States. T he article appeared on the No. 113 issue of   Ali Antiche ,  the magazine of G.A.V.S., the Italian organization for the preservation of historical aircraft, and it was published here with their permission. When Italy Exported Airplanes By Giancarlo Polidori   (Translated by L. Pavese) The period between the two world wars was a time of great achievements for the Italian aviation industry. The long distance cruises in formation and the record-setting flights were followed by a considerable activity of export.           More than 1,500 aircraft were sold throughout the world, more than 100 of which went to the Austrian Republic.  For Italy that was a great economic boost, but it was also a means of obtaining strategic raw material for which there was a great need. For every aircraft sold,

X-1 This brief article, which is basically an illustrated footnote, was originally posted in the  № 114 issue of the   Italian aviation magazine   Ali Antiche   as a postil of a larger scope article that covered the history of the Turin based S.T.A.L. Italian aeronautical company. The article takes for granted that the readers know, at least, some history of the S.T.A.L. company (I agree, not a good name for an aircraft manufacturer), and it could be a little obscure; nevertheless, it gives a chance to publish several nice drawings (which were probably never seen before outside of Italy); and it is interesting because it clearly proves that the concept of ultra-low-aspect ratio wings, capable to fly at very high angle of attacks and therefore at very low airspeed, had also intrigued aircraft designers of the Old World, like Willy Rosenfelder.  Your comments, as usual, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. L. Pavese Probably the most famous of all discoid wing aircraft:

Al Mooney era nato il 12 aprile del 1906 da un padre che progettava e costruiva quei ponti ferroviari del Far West, sorretti da tralicci di legno, che si vedono nei film americani, e che trasmise a lui e al fratello Art le sue conoscenze prima ancora che i ragazzi si iscrivessero al college. Al pensava di iscriversi alla Scuola Mineraria del Colorado (ma già stava lavorando alla costruzione di un aereo che aveva progettato) quando, nel 1924, mentre stava aiutando suo papà a costruire una casa, gli passò sulla testa un biplano Alexander. Al andò al campo di aviazione a vedere l’aeroplano, e si accorse che le ali del biplano non erano propriamente allineate. J. Don Alexander, il costruttore del biplano, gli offrì un lavoro; e il resto, come si dice, è storia. Al Mooney Al Mooney è uno di quegli uomini il cui nome rimarrà per sempre legato alla storia dell’aviazione generale; ma non tutti sanno che il nome del famoso progettista americano è anche legato alla st