Board of Directors

Giancarlo Zanardo, born in Conegliano Veneto (Treviso) on 21 November 1939, is a pilot by passion with over 2,500 flight hours. With his own hands he has built faithful flying reproductions of vintage aircraft for his collection of famous historical aeroplanes, including the Wright brothers' Flyer — the first aircraft in the world to fly, back in 1903 — presented at the Guidonia military airport on the centenary of the first powered flight. Flying reproductions built 1967 – Bensen autogyro 1969 – Scorpion helicopter 1986 – Fokker DR1 triplane (full-scale replica) 1988 – Bleriot XI-2 monoplane (full-scale replica) 1991 – Flyer 1 – 1903 (full-scale replica) 1993 – Mustang P-51D (80% scale replica) 2008 – SPAD XIII (full-scale replica) 2009 – C.A. Caproni 3 Aviation feats 1985 – 5,000 km solo raid across the whole of Italy, islands included, on a Tiger Moth biplane to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Italy's first civil flying school, founded at La Comina, Pordenone. 1987 – Group raid of 10 historical aircraft, Italy–England–Italy, on the Tiger Moth biplane to take part in the Tiger Club air show at Redhill. 1988 – Group raid with 4 historical aircraft, Italy–Austria–Italy, on the Fokker triplane to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the flight over Vienna. 1989 – Group raid with 10 historical aircraft, Italy–England–Italy, crossing the Channel on the Bleriot XI-2 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first Channel crossing. 2003 – Centenary celebration of the first powered flight at Guidonia (Rome) with the Flyer 1-1903, at the same hour on the same day (17 December, 10:35 am): the only successful celebration in the world performed with a replica of this model. Aviation honours 1989 – Paul Tissandier Diploma awarded by the F.A.I. 2002 – Named Pioneer of aeronautical progress by the Pioneers' Association 2003 – Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary International 2004 – Commendation from the Air Squadron Commander Gen. Giulio Mainini 2005 – Honorary Citizen of Nervesa della Battaglia for aeronautical merits 2011 – Founder and President of the Jonathan Collection of Famous Historical Aircraft

Born in Vidor (Treviso) in 1947, he lives in Valdobbiadene (Treviso). An entrepreneur in the furniture industry, he is a former Vice President of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of the Province of Treviso. He obtained his aeroplane pilot licence in 1971 at the Aero Club of Treviso and his helicopter licence in 1990 at Italfly in Trento. In 2003 he obtained mountain-flying rating no. 9 (Aero Club of Belluno) after attending the "Altissimo" course. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, he sponsored three major air raids documented in dedicated books: the 1987 raid with 11 aircraft across several European countries, and the historical re-enactment raids of D'Annunzio's flight over Vienna and Bleriot's first Channel crossing, flown by Giancarlo Zanardo on the Fokker DR1 triplane and the Bleriot respectively. He was appointed President of the AIPM at the Gualdo Cattaneo Assembly in 2007.

Born in Conegliano on 21 April 1960, the eldest of Giancarlo's three children, he lives in San Pietro di Feletto. Married to Sonia, he is the father of Alvise. Passionate about photography and video editing, he is vice president of the Vigor Basket Conegliano sports club, where he does his volunteer work. He coordinates the Foundation's website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Retired Pilot General A graduate in aeronautical construction from the "Malignani" Technical Institute in Udine, he joined the Italian Air Force in 1970 with the Marte III course. After flight school he was assigned to the 5th Wing as a fighter-bomber pilot on the F-104S, serving there until he commanded its 102nd Squadron. After several posts at the Air Force Academy, the 1st Air Region and the General Staff, in 1994-96 he commanded the 51st Wing at Istrana (Treviso) during its first deployment in real operations in the Balkans. After further assignments in Italy and abroad, he served as Deputy Commander of the 1st Air Region and Commander of the Combat Forces. He retired from active service in 2011.

A historian and journalist, he has worked for over 30 years on aviation history and the preservation of historical aircraft. He teaches Aviation History at the Italian Air Force Academy and is adjunct professor of History of the Americas and Aviation Management at LUISS University. The author of some fifty aviation books, he was among the first in Italy to work in aviation museology, curating exhibitions and restorations for all the major Italian institutions and chairing Italian and international organisations in the field.

Colonel, pilot. He joined the Italian Air Force in 1979 with the Turbine III course. After flight school he was assigned to the 3rd Wing as a reconnaissance pilot on the F-104G, logging over 1,000 flight hours on the type. He later served as a flight instructor at the 60th Wing in Amendola on the G.91T. He commanded the 28th Squadron on the AMX and the Aviano air base (Pordenone). A lifelong history enthusiast, he is building a 7/8-scale flying reproduction of a Nieuport Ni.11 biplane and is the author of the book "Caproni su Lubiana", which reconstructs the mission of 18 February 1916 that earned the first Gold Medal of Military Valour awarded to an Italian pilot. After several assignments in Italy and abroad, he serves at the Institute of Military Aeronautical Studies in Florence.

Lawyer and aeromodeller. A law graduate, he practises as a lawyer in Vittorio Veneto (Treviso), specialising in criminal and family law. He works with the "Tribunale per i diritti del malato" (Patients' Rights Tribunal) and has served as an honorary magistrate. An aviation enthusiast, he has been an aeromodeller for over 30 years and has written frequently for specialist magazines. Specialising in large-scale models, he is active in the Jonathan Aerotow Group and has built, among others, a Duo Discus glider with a 6.7-metre wingspan weighing 16 kg, a Pitts S1-S aerobatic biplane and a Horten IV glider.

Engineer. Born in Treviso, he graduated in electronic engineering from the University of Ferrara with a project on error-detection systems for the guidance of unmanned aircraft. He then moved into advanced home automation for total building management systems and later into plant design. For several years he has been technical director for the design and installation of renewable-energy systems in companies across north-east Italy. He sits on the board representing the family of Adolfo Mariani, after whom the Jonathan Collection's first hangar is named and to whom the flying field's land belongs.

Born in Rovato, near Brescia, in 1953. A pilot with around 17,000 flight hours. After 5 years as a military pilot at the controls of the T-37 and then the Aermacchi 326, he moved to civil airline flying with Alitalia, piloting the DC9, MD80 and DC10, then the Boeing 767, ending his career on the famous Boeing 747 Jumbo. Now retired with the "qualification", as he puts it, of farmer and carpenter.

Born in Conegliano on 31 August 1992, he is an entrepreneur in the trade of steel and metals for industry. A pilot by passion, with around 1,000 flight hours. A lifelong flying enthusiast, he built an ultralight aircraft that he flies regularly. In his free time he is building his second aircraft.

Born in Conegliano on August 6, 1960, he is an architect by profession with an office in Conegliano. A passionate pilot and model airplane builder, in his spare time he restores a historic motor glider.