Thursday 30 September, at the Pozzuoli Air Force Academy, the traditional celebration featuring the 65 young Sub-Lieutenants of the course. The term ‘Mak ? 100’ is the translation of a jokey and sarcastic Piedmontese expression ‘mac pi sent’ which means ‘only one hundred days left’. It expresses the anxious wait for the end of the academic period prior to the ‘break-up’ of the course with the assignment of the pilots to the advanced flight schools in Lecce and in America (USA and Canada) and the subsequent posting to operational units of the Sub-Lieutenants belonging to the Regular Arms Branch and the Engineer and Logistics Corps.
During the reception, the Second Lieutenants wore full dress uniform and, in the presence of top military Authorities, distinguished representatives of the Institutions and the local community, as well as the godparents of the ‘Grifo’ courses from previous generations, bade farewell to the Neapolitan city to the rhythm of a waltz, amidst the splendid backdrop of the Academy's Officers' Club.
In particular, Air Brigadier General Umberto Baldi, Commander of the Air Force Academy, in his welcoming address urged the young Pilot Officers to consider the end of their training cycle at the Italian Air Force's premier training institute as the beginning of an inspiring professional life in the ‘Blue Family’.
Air Squad General Pasquale Preziosa, Commander of the AM Schools / 3rd Air Region of Bari, urged the cadets to always uphold the values and traditions of the ‘Grifo’ courses.
