One of the Ardun heads on the test bed.

Story and photos by Brandes Elitch

In mid-March our local Packard Club chapter hosted a tour of the Al Engel museum, just across the bay from San Francisco.

It was an extraordinary experience. I have been in many car museums in the US and Europe, but I have never seen anything like this.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

For an enthusiast of old aeroplanes, the view from the excellent, and rather well priced, cafe at the Italian Air Force Museum can’t be beat. You can look out over the tranquil waters of Lake Bracciano and wonder what it must have looked like back in the 1920s, when it was buzzing with seaplane activity, as Vigna di Valle was a seaplane base for the Regia Aeronautica.

Or you could look into the museum and admire what I consider to be the crown jewels of the collection, namely the bright red racing seaplanes that once competed for the coveted Schneider Trophy in the 1920s and 30s.

Last week it was the turn of the Lancias of the Lancia Club Italia to steal the limelight, this week it is the turn of the first two of five hangers. Just hang in there with us…