Final day of training on in-flight technical displays for the pilots and crews of the Eurofighter, C27J and T346A aircraft
Tuesday 7 June took place, at the’Pratica di Mare “Mario de Bernardi” military airport, the final day of training for the technical in-flight aircraft demonstrations del Experimental Flight Department RSV.
A day dedicated to technical capabilities of the aircraft and the piloting skills of the display crews which took place in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squad General Luca Goretti, the Logistic Commander, Air Squad General Roberto Comelli, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squad General Aurelio Colagrande, and the Commander of the Air Squad, Air Squad General Alberto Biavati.
Upon arrival, the military authorities were welcomed by the Commander of the Air Division for Aeronautics and Space Experimentation, Air Division General Mauro Lunardi, and attended a brief presentation on the Flight Test Centre, given by the Commander, Colonel Fabio De Michele, who also described the technical flight displays that would shortly take place.
Such demonstrations are a typical activity of the Experimental Flight Department which takes the form of the execution of a series of highly representative technical-operational manoeuvres, which, although carried out within the speed and altitude limits established by the regulations, have the aim of demonstrating the capabilities of the aircraft supplied to the Armed Force.
The stars of the day therefore became the presenting crews who, guided from the ground by the Commander of the 311th Flight Group, they performed their highly technical manoeuvres aboard the aircraft Eurofighter, C27J e T346A.
At the end of the activity, at the RSV Flight Line, pilots and crews were welcomed by military dignitaries, a small representation of the Unit's personnel and the Commander of the Experimental Flight Department, Colonel De Michele, who, after thanking the authorities present, focused attention on the hard work carried out throughout the training phase: “a joint effort that, alongside the crews, involved the engineering component and, above all, the technical maintenance personnel who ensured the safe readiness of the aircraft. An added value of the Flight Test Department, as we are proud to carry out a service aimed at ensuring and supporting the operational capability and relevance of the Italian Air Force. He also added: “the crews here before us will act as ambassadors for the professionalism and technical training of Italian Air Force personnel at all air shows in Italy and abroad they are called upon to attend.
It General Goretti He therefore proceeded with the solemn moment of the presentation of the patches Di“Display Pilot”and“Display Crew“, accompanied by the ritual and auspicious pat on the back; then, addressing the crews recently honored, and the entire Experimental Flight Department in general, he underlined how the activity of display just the tip of the’iceberg of a much more complex and structured organisation and just how important the task carried out in support of all the Armed Force’s Operational Units is: “is this your remit and you do it really well; a remit that is not always easy, but one of which you must be proud.
The Air Experimentation Department of Aeronautics and Space brings together, under a single command, all the study and experimentation units of the Italian Air Force. The Division represents the main advisory body of the Armed Force and the Defence Administration for flight testing of aircraft and weapon systems, chemical-physical analysis and evaluation of structural and consumable materials, training and experimentation in the aerospace medicine sector, the management of Software operational and the operational testing of weapon systems.
Furthermore, D.A.S.A.S. provides technical and logistical support to the Italian Air Force units, other Armed Forces and State Armed Corps located on the base, and manages, through the ATOC (Air Terminal Operations Centre), flights intended for operations outside national borders.
Pratica di Mare Airport is the leading Italian military air base for traffic and aircraft movements and is also the sole national military health entry point.
The employee Experimental Flight Department in response to the changing geopolitical context and ever-new requirements in operational theatres, making use of the 311th Flight Group (GV), the Technical Group (GT), the Software Management Group (GGS), the Aerospace Engineering Group (GIAS) and the Armaments and Countermeasures Group (GAC), test Weapons Systems and materials of aerospace interest, defines modifications to aircraft, on-board systems and flight-related material, and provides technical evidence for the purposes of homologation/certification. In addition to this primary role, it performs the support for the Italian aerospace industries, including through technical in-flight presentations of domestically manufactured aircraft.
