One of the many
appeals of the Golden Era of Aviation is its powerful Mystique.
The mystique involved in discovering, records, exploration
and technical achievements that gave us a better, deeper understanding of our
world and its wonders.
A special chapter in this thrilling time is about record
flights.
Mr. Miana’s book describes the context of the period and
focuses in the machine, crew and circumstances of the record flights of the
Savoia S.64.
The book is a very thorough research effort accompanied by
extensive photographic documentation, charts, maps, schematics, etc; skillfully
balancing written and graphic contents.
Although the text is in Italian, if that’s not your
language, you can still get a sense of its meaning thanks to the abundant visual
material.
Fellow modeler Chris B.R. stated once that as soon as you are
finished with a model (especially a scratch-built one) of which not much is
around in terms of information, chances are that a new source will surface exactly
after you have finished it. Well, I am still happy I built my 1/72 S.64
http://www.internetmodeler.com/2007/july/aviation/S64.php
although with this book I could have done much, much better.
Anyway, by now you may have discovered that I am partial to
this plane and the Golden Era of Aviation, which is populated by a plethora of
very exciting subjects.
Mr. Miana’s book is 16,5 x 23,5 ctms. (or roughly 6 ½ by 9
¼ inches), soft cover and about 80 pages crammed with information. The images
are black and white.
The chapters are as follows:
-Introduction
-SIAI is born
-The political-historical context in the inter-war period
-The technological level of aeronautic construction of the
Italian industry
-Plane description
-Engine
-The S.64 takes to the air
-The Montecello airstrip
-Close-circuit distance and endurance record
-Maximum duration flight technique
-Preparations for the enterprise
-Ferrarin and Del Prete improve the record
-Maximum distance flight technique
-Destination:
Brazil
-The second endurance record
-The Maddalena, Cecconi and Del Monte incident
-Similar planes
-Conclusions
-Bibliography
-Archival material
Mr. Miana can be reached
at
www.avioebooks.com
Click on
images below to see larger images
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