Fiat G-91 Santa Maria Island, The Azores

[m charters]

Am currently on the island of santa maria in the Azores fixing a corporate jet and found this Fiat G-91 near the airport. Pretty rough shape, a lot of corrosion and in danger of falling off its post.

[rreis]

After the revolution (25 April 1975) there were lot's of Fiats around, some given by the germans and which never saw service in the Portuguese Air Force. Lot's of them were given away for municipalities for monuments and kids playgrounds. The Gina, has it is very foundly remembered around here, was a true workhorse during the wars in Africa and there is at least a story of a famous PAF pilot going under the 25 April brigde in Lisboa (same type of structure has the Golden Gate in Frisco) with a Gina in inverted flight. yep... those were the days....

The Tiger head on the picture belongs to the Magnificos squadron (now deactivated. They gave their Ginas for A7P and were deactivated in the late 90s)

More photos of the Gina can be found here: http://www.forum9gs.net/viewtopic.php?f ... =Fiat+gina

And, the best looking of them all, a special paint job for Tigers Meet, done by the Jaguares squadron (they now fly F16s from Monte Real air base):



This photo was taken in the new location of the Portuguese Air Force Museum, at Sintra. More here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rreis/sets ... 4418610540