Giancarlo Zanardo

Born in Conegliano Veneto, in the province of Treviso, on 21 November 1939, a great aviation enthusiast since childhood and a pilot by passion, with more than 2,500 flying hours and numerous aviation feats aboard the faithful reproductions of important historic aircraft he himself built, today preserved at the Jonathan Collection Foundation, of which he is President.

FLYING AIRCRAFT BUILT AND RESTORATIONS

1964 - 1968: Bensen water-towed autogyro; Bensen seaplane autogyro with McCulloch engine; Bensen autogyro with Volkswagen engine; Bensen autogyro with self-designed floats; two Bensen B-8M autogyros;

1971 - Scorpion helicopter

1980 - Raz Mut, built in collaboration with Giacomo Naibo and test-flown by Zanardo at Treviso airport

1986 - Fokker DR1M triplane I-LYNC (1:1 scale);

1988 - Blériot X1-2M monoplane (1:1 scale);

1991 - Flyer 1–1903M (1:1 scale);

1993 - Jurca MJ-77 "Gnatsum" I-MUST (80% scale replica of the North American P-51D "Mustang");

2000 - Type A Flyer using some original parts (Italian Air Force commission for the Vigna di Valle Museum).

2001 - Construction of the Caproni CA.1, the first aircraft built by engineer Gianni Caproni

2002 - Construction of floats and wings of the M 67 racing seaplane for static display at the Italian Air Force Museum at Vigna di Valle, and construction of the steel-tube fuselage of the RO 41 biplane restored by GAVS for the same museum

2006 - PR2 "Saltafossi" and subsequent flight;

2007 - Construction of the Caproni Ca.100 "Caproncino" (two examples);

2007 - SPAD XIII I-GIAG (1:1 scale);

2014 - SPAD XIII I-JONA (1:1 scale);

2014 - Caproni Ca33R I-ZANA (1:1 scale);

2018 - Sopwith Camel (1:1 scale);

2023 - Re-engining and updating of the Caproni Ca33R;

AVIATION FEATS

1985 - Solo raid of 5,000 km across the whole of Italy, islands included, with the Tiger Moth biplane to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the first civil flying school, born at La Comina, Pordenone.

1987 - Group raid of 10 historic aircraft: Italy-England-Italy aboard the Tiger Moth biplane to take part in the Tiger Club air show at Redhill.

1988 - Group raid with 4 historic aircraft Italy-Austria-Italy aboard the Fokker triplane to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the flight over Vienna.

1989 - Group raid with 10 historic aircraft: Italy-England-Italy, crossing the Channel aboard the Blériot X1-2 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first Channel crossing.

1992 - Flight to Domodossola with the Blériot, landing where the monument to Geo Chávez was erected.

2000 - Flight to San Marino with landing on Monte Carlo in memory of Wilmer Gianni.

2003 - Celebration of the centenary of the first flight (at Guidonia, Rome) with the Flyer 1-1903, flying at the same time, 10:35, and on the same day, 17 December — the only celebration in the world successfully carried out with a replica of this model.

AVIATION HONOURS

1989 - Paul Tissandier Diploma awarded by the FAI

2002 - Named Pioneer of aeronautical progress by the Pioneers' Association

2003 - Paul Harris Fellow certificate awarded by Rotary International

2004 - Commendation from the Air Squadron Commander, Gen. Giulio Mainini

2005 - Named Honorary Citizen of Nervesa della Battaglia for aeronautical merits.

2011 - Founder and President of the Jonathan Collection of Famous Historic Aircraft.

2026 - Francesco Baracca Prize 2026 awarded by the Municipality of Lugo di Romagna.