The soul of historical aviation
date of the event
May 23rd, 2026
in collaboration with
Historical Aircraft Group
On May 23, Padua’s Gino Allegri Airport will open doors for an event that combines culture, experience, and a passion for aviation: “The Winged Lion: A Story of Today, on the Wings of the Past,” an initiative launched to coincide with the presentation of Pier Paolo Becich’s book and designed to transform the historical narrative of flight into a vivid, accessible, and shared experience. Promoted and supported by Heron Air, the airport’s management company, the event once again confirms the commitment to putting the local community at the center, creating real opportunities for participation and bringing the public closer to a world often perceived as distant or specialized. The airport thus transforms into an open cultural space, capable of fostering connections between people, the local area, and collective memory.
Open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the event will offer visitors the chance to experience the charm of historic aviation up close, thanks to collaboration with leading international and national partners. Visitors will be able to tour the static aircraft exhibition, scheduled in two separate time slots: from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with access organized in small groups to ensure an engaging and in-depth experience. It will be a unique opportunity to observe the aircraft up close, understand their technical characteristics, and hear stories and interesting facts directly from those who study, restore, and fly them.
At 2:30 p.m., there will be a presentation of the book *Il Leone Alato* by Pier Paolo Becich, the central narrative element around which the entire event is structured. Following this, the institutional panel discussion will bring together industry leaders, experts, and partners for an open discussion on the historical, cultural, and identity-defining value of aviation. Speakers will include, among others, Adrian Mosca (General Manager of Junkers Aircraft Italia), Andrea Rossetto (founding partner of HAG Italy) and Roberto Sardo, a military pilot whose career spans iconic aircraft, from the F-104 to historic biplanes.
Junkers Aircraft, a symbol of unparalleled prestige
Junkers Aircraft is synonymous with prestige: as the heir to one of the most iconic traditions in European aviation, the brand traces its roots to the pioneering vision of Hugo Junkers, one key figure in the development of modern aeronautical engineering. Today, Junkers continues to carry on this legacy through the faithful reconstruction and production of historic airplanes, combining technological innovation with respect for the original design. Its participation in the event lends an international dimension and allows the public to engage directly with a history that has profoundly shaped the evolution of flight.
HAG Italy (Historical Aircraft Group Italy)
As the Italian leading association for the preservation and promotion of historic aviation heritage, HAG stands out for its approach that combines technical rigor with passion, focusing on historical research, conservation restoration, and the maintenance of vintage aircraft in airworthy condition. Not merely
custodians of aircraft, but true storytellers of flight: thanks to their work, these aircraft do not remain static objects but continue to live on and pass on culture, memory, and expertise to new generations.
“Il Leone Alato” is not just an event but a project that takes shape through collaboration among leading experts, people, and shared visions. It is an opportunity to explore the world of flight through the eyes of those who live it, study it, and preserve it, making it a tangible, accessible, and deeply contemporary experience. Thus, Allegri Airport reaffirms itself not only as a strategic aviation infrastructure but also as a hub for cultural exchange and production, capable of fostering dialogue between past and future, technology and storytelling, institutions and citizens.
