The History of SAI Ambrosini

Founded in 1922 the  SAI  - SOCIETA’ AERONAUTICA ITALIANA – draws from the Studio Tecnico Commerciale of the Eng. Angelo Ambrosini that supplied instruments, propellers and pitch controls, bolts, etc.. for the planes of that time.

From foundation to the post-war period, thousands of planes came out from the works of Passignano s/T (PG); thousands of machines, designed for various missions, that made the history of Italian Air Force.

SAI of Passignano was too the seat of an important flying-boat school that graduated the best pilots of the period: men so able to form largely the crews that Italo Balbo led in the legendary raids through the Atlantic in 1928.

The location of the works, on the shore of lake Trasimeno and near the airfield of Castiglion del Lago – one of the first test flying centre – , promoted great developments in aeronautic industry; in fact, the most advanced and sophisticated planes were tested secretly in that area, like the SAI SS4 – - first plane formula canard – .

A scrupulous and an exacting work, cost great sacrifices in human lifes too, permitted to achieve memorable goals during the control of the air race that involved all the World Powers.

SAI’s planes and the later plans

Before and after the II World War constructed the series SAI 1, SAI 2, SAI 3 and SAI 7, the latest in about hundred planes.

The Royal Air Force ordered about 3000 planes of the serie SAI 403; such was the success of this plane that Germany and Japan bought the license.

Some time after  the Macchi 200 and 202 were constructed too by SAI on license.

The sports planes Grifo and Rondone were realized in post-war period and in the same period the Ambrosini Super 7, a training fighter for the Italian Air Force.

The company was famous for the sail-planes Canguro too and one of these, piloted by Eng. Ferrari, achieved in Rome the climbing record with 8200 mts (see historic document).

In that years SAI constructed the Sagittario, first Italian supersonic jet-plane that competed for NATO test.

In the ’60, SAI Ambrosini took up again the study of a RPV (remote piloted vehicle) and of a mini RPV, so anticipating the UAV to day largely used in reliable military and civilian missions.

The know-how was used for new products and solutions not aeronautics specifically; the vocation for the naval works comes from the experience related to the sea-plane construction.

The company was specialized in alloy hull having advanced features; the naval division produced watercraft for various missions according military standard.

In this field again, SAI constructed Azzurra, the twelve mts of the first America’s Cup italian challenge, the Moro di Venezia in light alloy version, Yena that was to the top of the most important IOR classified coming out unscathed too from Fastnet storm in 1979, Longobarda first sailboat in composite, Emeroude designed by G. Frers, etc…

The Silveray was constructed too in Passignano, a performing off-shore represented the best aeronautic experience in special alloy applied to a motor boat.

SAI in the last years of the activity participated in many high level programs with its innovative proposals that included: systems and sub-systems for civilian and military planes, rocketry, telecommunications, radar systems, field mobile units and sophistied integrated systems of logistic support

SAI, founded and led by Eng. Angelo Ambrosini, has given employment and welfare in a wide territory sited between the Provinces of Perugia and Arezzo.

This land has given to SAI for many years workers that had an high technical formation thanking the specialization required for the aeronautics works.

At the end of the II World War, a great number of these men became top level specialists indispensable for the industries and many set up new enterprises with success giving great impulse to the economic development of the two Provinces.

More than 70 years have passed since the test flight of the SAI-1, the first fully SAI Ambrosini plane constructed in the works of Passignano; at that time began an history made by men and enthusiasm that has given to the Air Forces famous planes.

To day our mind comes back and, as for that men, we are proud to introduce Aeroclub, the first “piece” of the new SAI Ambrosini challenge in which  passion and enthusiasm of that time are perpetuated.

With Aeroclub is available the book “Ali sul Trasimeno”that gives a detailed account of SAI Ambrosini and Fighter Training Centre of Castiglion del Lago.