Everybody seems to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of flight this year - and quite right too. There can't be many companies that can say they were there at the beginning, but Secondo Mona is one of them.
Throughout the past century the Italian firm has been at the forefront of aviation design and manufacture. As Orville and Wilbur where putting the finishing touches to their Flyer in the US, Secondo Mona was opening a motorcycle repair shop in Somma Lombardo, Italy.
After only 10 years, Secondo, a gifted self-taught engineer, soon gravitated to the then-fledgling aviation industry and earned a reputation as a high quality aviation engineer.
Quality
He began designing his own aviation equipment - and Secondo Mona was soon a leader in the design of high quality systems for fuel, hydraulics, lubrication and actuation in both military and civil aircraft - a reputation his company has held ever since.
Equally remarkable, the company is still owned and run by the Mona family.
Secondo Mona's great-great-grandaughter, Dr Claudia Mona, now deals with the company's marketing. She says she feels proud to be a part of such a heritage.
"We have grown together with the story of flight and I'm very happy to still be involved aviation - my brother and I hope to take the company forward," she says.
As the company grew in reputation,In the early days, international markets began to open up in the UK, German and France as the company's reputation grew, and since the Second World War, Seconda Mona has been involved in many major projects.
"We have been involved in programmes including the Tornado, the Eurofighter and the NH 90 helicopter, to name but a few," says Dr Mona.
And she fully expects Secondo Mona to remain at the forefront of the aviation industry.
Wonderful
She says: "If you compare the Wright Flyer with, say, the Eurofighter, it seems difficult to comprehend - and it's wonderful to have played a part in that.
"I can't imagine where the next 100 years will take us but hopefully we will be a part of that too."
New products on display during the show (Hall 2C, stand G18) include products for use in the fuel system of the Aermacchi M346 advanced twin engine jet trainer for which Secondo Mona is a major supplier.
Also on show are pumps, valves, actuators, manifolds and engine equipment in production for the Eurofighter, Dassault Mirage 2000 and the NH Industries NH90 and AgustaWestland EH101 helicopters.
Source: Flight Daily News
