At Galatina, the ceremony for the handover of the MB 326 aircraft, restored by specialists from the 10th Aircraft Maintenance Department, to the 61st Wing.
Took place on Friday 24 March, at the 10th Aircraft Maintenance Department (RMV) of Galatina, the unveiling and handover ceremony to 61st Wing Of the aircraft Aermacchi MB 326. A small number of specialists, both military and civilian, belonging to the 10th RMV's Works Directorate, have completed the restoration of the aircraft which, thanks to meticulous work lasting several months, has returned to its former glory.
The MB 326, with military serial number 54387 and fuselage number 66, entered service on 8 October 1974 and was decommissioned on 28 January 1993, with 2,122 flight hours logged.
The aircraft, one of the first MB 326s to arrive at Galatina, had subsequently only flown with the 605th Liaison Squadron of the 5th Air Brigade at Cervia.
Upon arriving at the 10th Aircraft Maintenance Unit in December 2022, the’MB 326 it came from a storage facility of the Aeronautical Detachment of Piacenza, where it had been temporarily placed by personnel from the Historical Museum of the Air Force of Vigna di Valle. A few years earlier, in fact, it had been returned to the Armed Forces after being exhibited at the Mirabilandia amusement park, in the province of Ravenna.
The important thing structural recovery This became necessary due to significant deterioration of the paintwork on the livery and, in particular, structural damage that had occurred over time. After disassembling the various components, specialist personnel from the Works Management of the 10th Aircraft Maintenance Department proceeded to fully restore and completely repaint the structure. The aircraft was thus returned to the original livery colours with the original “fuselage number”, assigned in relation to its military serial number. The meticulous restoration work also involved the various “decals” originally present, relating to all “safety” and usage information.
On 24 March 2023, with a subdued ceremony, the Director of the 10th Aircraft Maintenance Department, Colonel Fabio Cerase, has symbolically handed over the restored aircraft to the 61st Wing, with the flight logbook passing into the hands of the Commander, Colonel Vito Conserva.
In his speech, Colonel Cerase emphasised:“The restoration work was a team effort involving the various components of the Directorate of Works of the Department. From the preparation and cleaning of the aircraft, through structural repairs and the painting of components, to assembly, the military and civilian personnel, with a spirit of camaraderie and effective synergy, have demonstrated a fervent passion and high level of professionalism. The “completed” work evokes a piece of aeronautical history and, therefore, allows us to seal our Centenary celebration. Thanks and well done to all those who made the achievement of this objective possible.”.
Colonel Conserva, at the conclusion of the ceremony, stressed that the restoration of the MB326 and its handover to the 61st Wing, is a testament to the excellent relationship between the two entities located at Galatina airport and the synergy between the personnel of the two Departments, which allows for the achievement of results of undisputed excellence within the Armed Force.
The aircraft in question will be sent to Pratica di Mare to be exhibited at“Field 100”from 16th to 18th June, on the occasion of the Air Show dedicated to Centenary of the Air Force. Subsequently, the aircraft will return to the Galatina base to be designated for exhibition use.
It 10° R.M.V. insists on the “Fortunato Cesari” Military Airport in Galatina which, thanks to the activity of 61st Wing, represents excellence, nationally and internationally, in the sector of’Flight training. The Department provides for maintenance of all the MB339, T-346 and T-345 aircraft in service with the Italian Air Force and the technical-logistical-maintenance support for arresting barriers operating throughout the national territory and abroad.
