It took place on the grounds of Facing, home of the 2nd Wing, in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force Corps General Antonio Conserva, the traditional 1st May acrobatic training of the National Acrobatic Patrol, a symbolic event that represents the prelude to the start of the new season, open to numerous civil and military authorities and representatives of the territory and dedicated in particular to the hundreds of enthusiasts and friends of the Frecce Tricolori Clubs who arrived at the Friulian air base.
On this occasion, he made his official debut as“Pony 8”, third right-hand domestique, the Captain Tommaso Calogeri, a new addition to the lineup for the 2023 season, an extensive calendar of events in Italy and abroad, featuring institutional flypasts, air shows, and participation in major international gatherings. Among the first commitments scheduled is a flypast over Bari on the occasion of the San Nicola festival on 8 May, while the first official display is scheduled for 17 May in Varazze, Liguria. The calendar will continue in the following months with numerous stops along the entire peninsula and beyond its borders, confirming the Frecce Tricolori's role as an ambassador for the values of the Italian Air Force worldwide.
The meeting was an important opportunity to present the results of the charitable initiatives supported for 2026, highlighting a twofold commitment to solidarity. On the one hand, the generosity of Club Frecce Tricolori translated into the promotion of a project for the association “Il filo di Simo”, a volunteer organisation founded with the admirable aim of offering listening, psychological support and psychotherapy pathways to people and families experiencing emotional distress.
In parallel, ample prominence has been given to the beating heart of the Italian Air Force's solidarity through the project “A gift from heaven”For 2026, the Air Force aims to raise funds for three centres of excellence in Italian paediatric healthcare: the Buzzi Foundation in Milan, the San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Rome, and the Giovanni XXIII Paediatric Hospital in Bari. Through this initiative, cutting-edge healthcare technologies and equipment will be purchased to support the invaluable daily work of these three national facilities.
At the end of the flight activity, after the traditional presentation of the team for the 2026 season by the Commander of the 313th Acrobatic Training Group, Lieutenant Colonel Franco Paolo Marocco, the Chief of Staff addressed his regards, emphasising the fundamental role of the Clubs and the public. Frecce Tricolori which amplifiers of the message that the PAN expresses through the Tricolore, as an ambassador of the values of the Air Force, Defence and the entire country.
