The Moto Guzzi Airone was made at Mandello del Lario between 1939 and 1957. Shown at the end of 1939 as the successor to the P.E. 250, it was the company’s quarter-litre model and became one of its longest-running singles.
Moto Guzzi Airone at a glance
| Maker | Moto Guzzi, Mandello del Lario |
|---|---|
| Production | 1939–1957 |
| Replaced | Moto Guzzi P.E. 250 |
| Engine | 246 cc single, four-stroke, air cooled |
| Power | 9.5 hp |
| Top speed | 95 km/h |
| Gearbox | four speeds, one more than the P.E. 250 |
| Frame | tubular at first, then pressed steel |
| Front suspension | telescopic fork from 1947 |
| Sport version | 13.5 hp and 120 km/h from 1949 |
The English Wikipedia has no article on the Airone; this page is based on the Italian article and is therefore based on one source.
History of the Moto Guzzi Airone
The Airone was presented at the end of 1939 as the heir to the P.E. 250. The new quarter-litre had a four-speed gearbox instead of the three of its predecessor and an engine enlarged to 246 cc, giving 9.5 hp and a top speed of 95 km/h. It was initially built with a tubular frame, but shortly after it went on sale this was replaced by a pressed steel frame that was cheaper to produce.
Production restarted in 1945 after the Second World War. In 1947 the suspension was updated with a telescopic fork designed by Carlo Guzzi himself and a pair of hydraulic rear dampers, and at the end of 1948 an aluminium cylinder head was introduced with the valve gear enclosed.
Airone Sport
The Airone Sport was marketed in 1949 with the engine tuned to 13.5 hp and a top speed of 120 km/h, thanks to a new camshaft, a Dell’Orto SS 25 carburettor and a more compact combustion chamber. The chassis was revised as well, with the rear part of the frame in tubes, larger aluminium drum brakes, lighter mudguards and adjustable compass-type rear dampers. From 1951 the frame, rear suspension and brakes of the Sport were used on the touring version too.
In 1954 a new, quieter silencer was introduced and the Sport lost some of its edge, dropping to 12 hp and 110 km/h. The Sport went out of production in 1956, while the touring version stayed in the catalogue for another year, largely for military supplies: Moto Guzzi had prepared a special military version of the Airone in 1952.
Design and features
- Quarter-litre single: a 246 cc four-stroke with four speeds, replacing the P.E. 250.
- Pressed steel frame: adopted soon after launch because it cost less to build than the tubular one.
- Carlo Guzzi fork: the telescopic front fork of 1947 was designed by the founder himself.
- Airone Sport: 13.5 hp and 120 km/h in 1949 with a new camshaft and a larger carburettor.
- Military version: a special Airone was prepared for the armed forces in 1952.
Moto Guzzi Airone versions
- Airone (1939–1957): the standard touring model, 9.5 hp and 95 km/h.
- Airone Sport (1949–1956): 13.5 hp and 120 km/h, 12 hp and 110 km/h after the 1954 silencer change.
- Military Airone (1952): a dedicated version for the armed forces.
The Airone sat between the military Alce and the 500 cc Astore, and its engine ideas were carried into the Falcone. More machines are in the Moto Guzzi collection.
Video: moto guzzi – airone
Video by gm52film on YouTube.
Sources
- Moto Guzzi Airone, Italian Wikipedia: production, engine, updates, Sport version
