This book describes the historical and technical evolution of the Italian aeronautical and space sector in the period between 1920 and 2024, from a particular viewpoint: the analysis of the main events organized by the A.I.D.A.A., the Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the most important Italian association in the aerospace sector.
The A.I.D.A.A. celebrated its first one hundred years in 2020, having been founded in 1920, the year when its historical nucleus was set up: the a.i.d.a., the Italian Association of Aerotechnics.
A century of time that saw many dramatic periods such as the two World Wars, a number of favourable contingencies, and political and social changes involving all sectors, civil and military, including the aerospace field. There have been so many members, aerospace experts and enthusiasts, who have kept this Association alive. In this book I have attempted to recall as many as possible, as I have done for the organizations, the universities and the Research Centres.
One of the main principles of the life of the A.I.D.A.A., enabling it to grow and overcome the critical times, has been its strong connection with the Italian Air Force, and this connection is still very active and fruitful today.
Among the many activities carried out, the National and International Congresses are what best represent the Association. Much of the research in the sciences and aerospace technology field is illustrated in the papers presented by the delegates at the Congresses, giving a global view of the contribution, both institutional and industrial, of the Italian aeronautical and space sector. The Author’s intention has been to illustrate the importance and meaning of the A.I.D.A.A.’s contribution to the progress of our national aerospace sciences.
After his degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the Milan Polytechnic, Mario Marchetti specialized in the space sector at the Aerospace Engineering School of La Sapienza University in Rome where he spent most of his academic career. Full professor of Air Missile Structures, the course set up by Luigi Broglio, he has been a lecturer at the Polytechnic University of the Marche, the Engineering Faculty of La Sapienza and the Université de Besançon (France). Hundreds of degree students have followed his courses, many of whom today hold positions of responsibility in various organizations, universities and industries. As the scientist in charge of national and international research projects, both in the aeronautical and the space sectors, he has also held numerous institutional appointments. The author of over four hundred scientific works published in the most important international reviews and of four books, he holds eight patents. A member of the A.I.D.A.A. since it was set up, he is currently the President of the Rome Branch and has been editor of the journal Aerotecnica Missili e Spazio. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (I.A.A.) of the i.a.f., the International Astronautical Federation, and of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (E.A.S.A.).
