wwi aircraft

could anybody give me any information or pictures of an italian aircraft biplane by the name of
Balilla or Balila.
many thanks roy

Hi,I'm sorry but at the moment I can send no image.I hope these very short informations are enough.
The "Balilla" (Ansaldo A.1,to indicate the first Ansaldo original design."Balilla" was an official nickname given in august '18 after an heroic Genoan boy) was the first true fighter designed and produced in Italy.It was basically a development of the better known S.V.A. but intended to perform specialized fighter duties.
Wing span and the other general dimensions were kept shorter than the S.V.A. to improve handling while the engine was let the same of the S.V.A.itself, the in-line 200 hp S.P.A.6A.
Structurally the A.1 was not very different from the S.V.A.
In December 1917 some of the best Italian fighter pilots (Baracca,Ruffo di Calabria,Piccio) were invited to test fly the aircraft.Baracca,who at that time was flying the SPAD VII, criticyzed the A.1 as not as manoeuvrable as the SPAD.After several modifications and other tests the A.1, renamed A.1 bis, was at least put into production and dispatched to the front.
70^ Squadriglia in August 1918 was the first front unit to receive some Balillas .Some aircraft went to the schools.The modified A.1 arrived too late to the front and had few opportunities to display its good and bad qualities.Production figures vary from 150 to 120 aircraft,depending from the font.Two original Balillas are still preserved in Italy.

VBR

andrea

[Rod_Filan]

L'Ansaldo A.1 "Balilla" of Capitano Antonio Locatelli

I believe this is one of the original a/c still in existance (if my memory serves me correctly).
Perhaps Andrea can confirm this.

VBR
Ro§bud

Yes,it is A.1 16553.I remember to have seen it when I was a child at the Museo del Risorgimento in Bergamo.I think it's still on display there.The other A.1,16552,was flown by Natale Palli and if I am not wrong should be at Casale Monferrato.
andrea

There's an excellent Italian site on the A.1. Check out:

http://www.museostoricobg.org/englis...i/locatell.htm

Matt Bittner