Volandia Park and Flight Museum has recently added a significant piece of modern military aviation history to its collection—a former Italian Air Force Tornado IDS, donated by the Aeronautica Militare Italiana. Located adjacent to Milan–Malpensa Airport, Volandia is the largest aviation museum in Italy and one of the most prominent in Europe. The museum occupies the historic Caproni Vizzola factory buildings, dating back to 1910, where aviation pioneer Gianni Caproni once tested his earliest aircraft designs.
A highlight of the recent ceremony was the official unveiling of the Tornado PA-200, marking another milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Volandia and the Italian Air Force. Entering service in the early 1980s, the Tornado became a cornerstone of European air strike capabilities and a powerful symbol of technological innovation and international cooperation. Now proudly displayed in its NATO grey livery, the aircraft’s arrival and installation on September 7 were made possible through the support of the Cameri Air Base Command and the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Department, which oversaw its transport and assembly.
Aircraft MM7057 (MM = Matricola Militare, Italian for Serial Number) began its career with the 156th Squadron (tail code 36-54), later becoming 6-26 after its first Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU), and finally 6-04 following the most recent Ret8 modernization.
“I can only reiterate my heartfelt thanks to the Italian Air Force for increasingly entrusting Volandia with aircraft that have made aviation history,” said Marco Reguzzoni, President of Volandia. “This allows us, as in this case, to be among the very few museums in the world to exhibit a Tornado.”
Although founded only in 2010, Volandia has quickly become one of Europe’s leading aviation museums. Its vast collection now includes more than forty aircraft spanning from the early days of flight to the present day. In partnership with the Savoia-Marchetti Historical Group, the museum also undertook the ambitious reconstruction of a Savoia-Marchetti S.55 replica—an effort widely covered by Vintage Aviation News.
The addition of the Tornado IDS further enhances Volandia’s already significant Aeronautica Militare Italiana collection, which includes a de Havilland DH.100 Vampire, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, two Fiat G.91s (one an original Frecce Tricolori airframe), an Aermacchi MB-339, and an AMX Ghibli. As well as several helicopters and rare historical aircraft. For aviation enthusiasts traveling through northern Italy, Volandia offers a compelling destination—an ever-evolving museum set within beautifully restored historic buildings that blend Italy’s proud aeronautical heritage with a dynamic display of technological achievement. For more information, visit www.volandia.it/en.
