Cliff Durant in the cockpit of his Ansaldo Balilla (“little boy”), serial 16608, in 1920. Note the bent engine cowling, which became unhinged during one of Durant’s flights in the aircraft.

The Balilla in its later incarnation fitted with a Hispano-Suiza engine, possibly with Cliff Durant in the cockpit. In total, six examples of the rather elegant biplane were imported into the USA in the early 1920s.

Ansaldo A.1 Balilla Aviazione Militare serial 16608