Volandia – Parco e Museo del Volo

There are aviation museums that sit somewhere on an old air base. And then there is Volandia. The museum lies where Italian aviation is at home: in the brick halls of the Caproni works, on the edge of the heath where Gianni Caproni got his first biplane into the air in 1910. Today the jets of Milan Malpensa taxi next door, and from Terminal 1 you walk to the ticket office in a quarter of an hour. Inside, the Caproni Ca.1, Italy’s oldest surviving aircraft, awaits – and around it about 100 aircraft from the DC-3 to the tiltrotor.

A museum at the place where it all began

To understand Volandia, you have to take a step back. Gianni Caproni founded his aircraft manufacturing company in 1908. On the wide, flat heath around the Cascina Malpensa he found the terrain he needed for his experiments. According to the museum, the Officine Aeronautiche Caproni were established here in 1910 – according to Volandia, the first aircraft factory in Italy in the 20th century. Later, large-scale production moved to Taliedo near Milan, and the site at Malpensa lived on as Caproni Vizzola. In 1983 the helicopter manufacturer Agusta took over the company.

The present museum grew out of this legacy. On November 11, 2006, the project was presented in Somma Lombardo. A specially founded foundation, the Fondazione Museo dell’Aeronautica, bought the former Caproni site from AgustaWestland. According to Wikipedia, the foundation is backed by Leonardo-Finmeccanica, the airport operator SEA, the Province of Varese and companies from the area, among others. According to Wikipedia, a total of around €19 million was budgeted for renovation and exhibition; the Lombardy region, the Province of Varese and several municipalities signed a joint commitment, with part of it borne by the public sector.

Volandia opened its doors on May 8, 2010 – fittingly, on the hundredth anniversary of the first Caproni flight. Since then the museum has grown piece by piece: in 2012 a dedicated area for commercial aviation was added, in 2017 the state DC-9, in 2019 the spaceflight pavilion, in 2020 the Starfighter and M-346. Much of this would hardly be possible without the many volunteers – according to Italian Wikipedia, there are over 200. What this kind of work behind the scenes looks like is described in the article on volunteering in aviation museums.

The Caproni Ca.1: Italy’s oldest aircraft

The most important exhibit is not a big jet but a delicate biplane of wood, wire and fabric. The Caproni Ca.1 was the first aircraft Gianni Caproni designed and built himself. On May 27, 1910, it took off at Malpensa – according to the museum, the very first flight on the Malpensa heath.

At the controls was not Caproni himself but Ugo Tabacchi, a member of his team. According to English Wikipedia, Caproni could not afford an experienced pilot. The takeoff succeeded at once, and the aircraft flew straight ahead for a while. On landing, however, Tabacchi touched down hard, and the Ca.1 was badly damaged. The pilot was unhurt, and the aircraft never flew again.

Technically, the Ca.1 is a child of its time:

• Fuselage: an open, rectangular wooden framework with aluminum joints
• Wings: two wings of equal length, not staggered, with ailerons
• Powerplant: a four-cylinder engine of around 25 hp that drove two front-mounted propellers via roller chains
• Landing gear: five large wheels (two under the center section, one under each wingtip, one at the tail) and two small support wheels at the front to prevent nose-overs

The story of the aircraft after 1910 is almost as exciting as the flight itself. According to Wikipedia, the Ca.1 stood in the Caproni museum in Taliedo from 1939, went to the Caproni family villa in Venegono Superiore during World War II and stayed there until 2007. It was then restored and today stands in Volandia – very close to the place where it once took off. In the section “Il primo volo a Malpensa,” the museum stages this first flight.

The Caproni collection: what is here – and what is in Trento

When people hear “Caproni collection,” they often think of Volandia. A small clarification is in order here. The actual family collection goes back to Gianni Caproni and his wife Timina, who founded it as the Caproni museum in 1927. Over the decades this collection moved several times – from Taliedo to Venegono Superiore, in the 1960s to the old plant in Vizzola Ticino and finally to Trento. There it stands today as the Museo dell’Aeronautica Gianni Caproni next to Trento airfield, with rarities such as the 1911 Ca.6 and the Ca.9.

Volandia complements this collection with the place itself. In the Officine Caproni section, the workshop where the early Caproni aircraft were built has been reconstructed. According to Wikipedia, two more types are added:

• Caproni Ca.18 – the first aircraft of Italian design with which an entire Italian squadron was equipped
• Caproni Ca.113 – a well-known aerobatic aircraft of the interwar period

According to Wikipedia, a Caproni works chapel is also part of the grounds. For you this means: at Volandia you experience the company’s history at its origin, while the large type collection with more early Caproni aircraft is in Trento. An Italy tour with both museums is ideal for pioneer fans.

Airliners: from the DC-3 to the MD-80

For plane spotters, the commercial aviation section is especially exciting. According to Wikipedia, it opened in 2012 on around 4,000 square meters – the launch exhibit was a Douglas DC-3 Dakota. According to Italian Wikipedia, it is the only operational example publicly displayed in Italy. Why this type shaped aviation so much is covered on the type page for the Douglas DC-3 and in the article on the history of the DC-3.

The best-known large aircraft is the state DC-9. According to Italian Wikipedia, it carried President Sandro Pertini and Pope John Paul II, among others. It was inaugurated at Volandia on April 8, 2017. In Italy, state and government flights are operated by the air force, today by the 31° Stormo. You can find more on the type itself on the page about the McDonnell Douglas DC-9.

In 2018 an MD-80 with the registration I-SMEL was added as a donation – according to Italian Wikipedia, the first MD-80 in Meridiana’s fleet. The MD-80 family was ubiquitous in Italy for decades, for example at Alitalia and Meridiana. If you experienced the jets in scheduled service, you will find a piece of spotter nostalgia here.

The Fokker F27 is worth comparing with today’s turboprops such as the ATR 72-600, in whose construction Italian industry is involved through Leonardo. The Yak-40 with its three rear-mounted engines is a type you practically no longer see in everyday Western European life.

Military jets from East and West

The exhibition of fixed-wing aircraft (“Ala fissa”) leads from propeller to jet engine. One focus is on aircraft from Italian industry, complemented by jets from both blocs of the Cold War. According to Wikipedia, they include:

• Lockheed F-104 Starfighter – came on January 25, 2020, from the Luftwaffe Museum in Berlin-Gatow and was inaugurated on February 8, 2020. For German visitors, a nice connection to the Military History Museum Berlin-Gatow.
• Aermacchi M-346 Master – the second prototype of the jet trainer, on display since July 2020. Leonardo builds the production version; more on the type at Leonardo M-346.
• Fiat G.91, AMX Ghibli, MB-326 and MB-339 – Italian combat and training aircraft, according to Wikipedia partly as prototypes. You know the MB-339 from the displays of the Frecce Tricolori.
• SIAI-Marchetti S-211 – also in the collection as a prototype
• MiG-15 and MiG-21 – Soviet fighters in direct contrast with Western types
• Republic F-84F, F-86, Jet Provost and DH.100 Vampire – first-generation jets

The Starfighter in particular shows how closely European aviation was intertwined: Italy and Germany operated the type in large numbers. If you are interested in current military types, the article Identifying fighter jets in Europe helps.

Helicopters: the Agusta legacy

No coincidence: just a few kilometers away sits Agusta – now part of Leonardo – one of Europe’s most important helicopter manufacturers. The “Ala rotante” section spans from small autogyros to large army and navy types. According to Wikipedia, the exhibits here include the AB.47, AB.204, AB.206, A.109, the AW129 Mangusta attack helicopter line and the AW139. There is also an Italian CH-47 Chinook.

A section of its own, “Il futuro del volo,” belongs to the AW609. The tiltrotor takes off like a helicopter and flies like an airplane – a design principle you otherwise know almost only from military types. If today’s helicopter fleet interests you, also take a look at the AW109 and the AW169, which you see at many airports and hospital helipads.

Spaceflight, models and simulators

Volandia is more than an aircraft hall. The Spazio e Planetario pavilion shows planets, satellites and space missions from the Soviet cosmonauts to the ISS and the Apollo flights. The Saturn V and Soyuz stand as 1:10 scale replicas, and a planetarium is part of it. The pavilion was unveiled in 2019, according to Wikipedia together with the astronaut Paolo Nespoli.

For model builders, the Collezione Piazzai is a reason in itself: more than 1,200 models show aviation from the pioneers to spaceflight. There are also flight simulators, a library with a historical archive and large play areas for children. If you want to get into a virtual cockpit yourself after your visit, you will find tips in the article on getting started with flight simulation.

Two collections you should check beforehand: the Museo dei Trasporti Ogliari with trams, locomotives and funiculars is currently closed due to track work, according to the museum. According to Italian Wikipedia, the Bertone car collection was on display from 2018 to 2026 and has since moved to Turin. The small museum on the car designer Flaminio Bertoni remains part of the offering.

Photography at Volandia

Volandia is a place with two worlds of light. In the halls you work with artificial light and often little distance, on the outdoor grounds with sun position and weather. The museum’s info page names no specific rules on tripods or commercial shooting – if in doubt, ask at the ticket office before you set up larger equipment.

Getting there, opening hours and planning your visit

Volandia is at Via per Tornavento 15 in the Case Nuove district of Somma Lombardo, on the grounds of the former Officine Aeronautiche Caproni.

• By train: The Trenord Malpensa Express connects Milano Cadorna, Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi with the airport. You get off on the lower level of Terminal 1.
• On foot from Terminal 1: According to the museum, you go from the departures level (2nd floor) to Exit 17, leave the building to the right and follow the footpath to the pedestrian bridge. Along the museum it is then 10 to 15 minutes to the ticket office.
• By car: Via the A8 Milan–Varese, exit Busto Arsizio and on via the SS336 toward Malpensa, or exit Somma Lombardo – Case Nuove. At the roundabout, follow the signs to Volandia via the SP52. According to the museum, the parking spaces in front of the entrance are free.

Opening hours change with the season. From October 1 to December 31, 2026, Volandia is open, according to the museum, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; closed on Mondays. In January 2027 it is open only on weekends and holidays, with special openings around the holidays. On December 24, 25 and January 1 the museum stays closed, and in snow or ice it may close at short notice. We deliberately do not list admission prices because they change.

On accessibility: according to the museum, the entire grounds are accessible. Dogs are allowed in all areas except the children’s area.

Combining the museum with live traffic

Volandia’s biggest asset is its location. Milan Malpensa Airport is right next door, and you pick up its operations on the museum grounds as well. The museum is not a real spotting spot, though – for clean photos of takeoffs and landings you have to go to the fence. During the day, Malpensa mostly lands on runways 35, so the aircraft come from the south. The well-known locations are therefore mostly south of the runways under the approach; details on the museum as a starting point are at Volandia at Milan Malpensa Airport.

A sensible day plan: the morning on the east side of the airport, midday, when the light gets harsh, in the museum, and late afternoon on the west side. If the weather does not cooperate, you are in good hands in the halls – more ideas are in the article Plane spotting in bad weather.

The other Milan airports are also within reach: the city-close Linate Airport and the low-cost airport Milan Bergamo can be combined with Volandia for an extended weekend. If you are planning a bigger tour, you will find inspiration in the article on the spotting road trip across Europe.

For a museum trip through Italy, the Museo Storico dell’Aeronautica Militare in Vigna di Valle near Rome is a good choice, showing the history of the Italian Air Force. Coming from Switzerland, the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne and the Flieger Flab Museum Dübendorf are on the way.

Conclusion

Volandia is a museum with a location advantage hardly any other can offer. It stands in the halls where Italian aviation history began and shows, with the Caproni Ca.1, the aircraft with which it started. Around it, the collection tells of scheduled service with the DC-3, state DC-9 and MD-80, of the Cold War with the Starfighter and MiG, and of the region’s helicopter tradition up to the AW609.

Plan half a day to a full day, check the seasonal opening hours and combine the visit with an afternoon at the fence spots of Malpensa. If you want to experience the complete Caproni story, add a side trip to Trento.