“Awakening of the Myth“ - Fiat AS.6 Engine of Macchi-Castoldi Fame Roars to Life!

on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023 another major event took place to commemorate Italy’s proud aviation heritage - this being the resurrection of an ultra-rare Fiat AS.6 engine. This massive, V-24 engine powered the legendary Macchi Castoldi seaplane on its world absolute speed record flight ( mph) of October 23, 1934, with Warrant Officer Francesco Agello at the controls. The rebuilt engine roared to life in front of a crowd (almost exactly 89 years after that momentous day) following a two-year restoration effort. If the AS.6 was able to roar again after more than 80 years of silence, it is only because of the efforts of the “Il Magnete“ Association, led by its founder, Leonardo Sordi. Roughly 5,500 hours of work was involved in the various tasks needed to complete the project, including dismantling, historical research, reconstruction of components and accessories, reassembly and testing.