The Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 Sparviero occupies a very special place in the history of Italian aviation. It is not simply one of many aircraft that participated in World War II, but a true symbol the aircraft that, like no other, is etched in the collective memory as the embodiment of the Italian Air Force during that conflict. Even today, more than eighty years after its maiden flight, its distinctive silhouette is recognized and admired by enthusiasts and scientists worldwide. The Sparviero's story began in the early 1930s, when engineer Alessandro Marchetti of the Società Idrovolanti Alta Italia (SIAI) in Sesto Calende was working on an ambitious project and its numerous nicknames, including Sparviero and Gobbo maledetto, testify to the legend of the S.M.79!
