The Leone T-7 is the first Italian powered ultralight designed for industrial production. A simple “tubes and fabric” concept, it could take off and land in 40 meters.
The T-7 was designed by Pietro Terzi. It was called Leone in memory of Leone Concato (1912-1977), the aviation journalist who brought the Bell helicopter license to Italy. His son Gabriele Concato conceived the idea of an aircraft to address the new sport flying market along the lines introduced by law 106/85. This led him to seek the cooperation of the Milan Polytechnic, to take an industrial approach and to adopt aeronautical standards and materials.
Terzi designed the single-seat version, built the prototype through the Aerosviluppi company in Samarate (Varese) and piloted it in its first flight on 15 August 1984 from Cuvio (Varese). Production and sales were entrusted to Aviazione Ultraleggera Italiana, a dedicated company set up in Marano Ticino (Novara). The first production aircraft made its debut in September 1985 at Venegono at the 12th Fly-In of CAP, the Italian homebuilt aircraft association. The T-7 led to a float-equipped variant and to the T-8 two-seater. In all, AUI built a few dozen aircraft.
The Leone on display was found in 2006 in mediocre conditions by Sergio Ammer, a keen aeromodeller, pilot and builder of four ultralights, also fitted with floats. Ammer made the aircraft airworthy in three months and flew it seven times from Senago (Milan), for a total of four flying hours. The T-7 was donated to the Museum in 2010.

Thanks to: Sergio Ammer.