On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September, a ‘two-day’ event with in-flight exhibitions and other initiatives on the ground The anniversary is an opportunity for the Italian Air Force to share the Italian values and passion for flying with all citizens, as well as to show, through the exhibition of its most representative aircraft, the level of preparation achieved by the Armed Force and the aeronautical and space potential of the ‘Italian System’, highlighting how the Frecce Tricolori are an excellent example of ’Made in Italy‘. The Italian Air Force is a modern armed force that employs highly technological means and highly trained personnel to ensure 24-hour control of national airspace and to perform all other assigned missions with the highest degree of effectiveness and safety. The Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale (PAN) is a tile in the larger mosaic composed of all the operational realities of the Air Force. The Air Force is made up of around 43,000 people, over 700 of whom are women, who demonstrate commitment and sensitivity in the social field, the latter also stemming from frequent contact with the world's neediest populations. It is therefore a tradition for the Armed Force to link its events open to the public to socially useful activities, and on this occasion funds will be raised to support the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC). During both days, more than 100,000 gadgets will be made available to the public, the proceeds of which will go to support cancer research and, in particular, the training of the most promising young researchers. At the aerial event - which has also been realised thanks to the cooperation and support provided by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and companies and entrepreneurs - a large number of Italian and foreign media representatives, around 800 journalists and spotters, will be present during the two days of exhibitions. Alongside the Frecce Tricolori, the world's most important military aerobatic patrols - the ’Red Arrows‘ (Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team), the ’Patrouille de France Acrobatique‘, the ’Patrulla Aguila‘, the ’Patrouille Suisse‘, ’Team Iskry‘ (Poland), the Royal Jordanian Falcons (Jordan) and the ’Krila Oluje‘ (Croatia) - will be performing in the air, while representatives of other aerobatic teams (‘Black Eagles’ from South Korea, ‘Blue Impulse’ from Japan and “Silver Falcon” from South Africa) will be on the ground to take part in this event, which is also a traditional gathering of international aerobatic patrols. A static exhibition with historical aircraft and aircraft of the Italian Armed Forces has also been set up to frame the event for the public of enthusiasts. The event on Sunday 12 September will be broadcast live, through numerous connections with the Rivolto airport, on RaiUno and RaiSport channels, within the 'Azzurro Tricolore' programme (live TV on Sunday 12 September on RaiUno from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4.40 p.m. to 6.40 p.m. and on RaiSport channels from 10.20 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2.20 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.). Enthusiasts can also follow the air event live on the Internet by connecting to the Air Force portal (
http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/PAN50), where you will also find the online magazine ‘Cronache dal campo’, produced in real time by the Aeronautica Rivista present with its editorial staff at the air base. On this occasion, Poste Italiane will issue a commemorative stamp on Saturday 11 September to celebrate the National Acrobatics Patrol. Aerial acrobatics originated in Italy thanks to Colonel Rino Corso Fougier, who in 1930, at Campoformido, established the first acrobatics patrol, the Folle Patrol mounted on CR.20 biplanes that, from its inception, immediately made history. After years of success in Europe, at air shows in Budapest and Berlin, and in South America, in Argentina, the Second World War closed the acrobatic activity for a decade, which resumed in 1950 with the Patrol of the Gallant Horse, formed with four DH.100 Vampire aircraft from the 4th Aerobrigade. In those years, the redundancy of aircraft assigned to the Aerobrigate allowed the formation of an acrobatic patrol unit for the year and one for training for the following year. Over the course of nine years, the patrols of the Black Lancers, White Tigers, Tonanti Jets, and Red Devils took turns, until 1959 when the General Staff decided to form a permanent national acrobatic patrol, the Tricolour Arrows, as part of the 313th Acrobatic Group, based in Rivolto del Friuli. Since then, the Tricolour Arrows have been equipped first with F-86 Sabres, then with FIAT G.91 PAN and currently with MB-339PAN.
