Italian Air Force: the Frecce Tricolori have landed in Canada, the Nat 24, North American tour, begins in the coming days.
The MB-339PANs of the Frecce Tricolori have arrived in Quebec, the first stop on a tour that will see them fly across Canada and the United States throughout the summer. This return has been anticipated for over thirty years; the PAN's last overseas experience was indeed at Columbus '92, on the occasion of the celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.
At the following link, you'll find photos of the Frecce Tricolori's crossing and arrival in Canada:
Bagotville (Canada) – Having departed last June 10th from the Rivolto (Udine) airbase, after a transfer lasting over four days which included several technical stops in the Netherlands, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada, the Frecce Tricolori landed in Bagotville, Quebec (Canada) in the past few hours, where on June 22nd they will participate in celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, an opportunity to renew the friendship between the two air forces, which share a century-long history of common traditions and values.
A team of military personnel and transport aircraft from the Air Force also takes part in the entire tour, which, in addition to the necessary support provided to the MB339s of the Frecce Tricolori during the long transfer flight from Italy, will ensure logistical support and the transport of personnel and materials to the various display locations.
The Bagotville one will be the first stop on the highly anticipated Frecce Tricolori North America Tour 2024, which will see the ten Air Force ponies – as the Frecce Tricolori pilots are called – perform until the end of August in various cities in Canada and the United States, taking the Tricolour and Italian excellence overseas through a packed schedule of flypasts and displays during air shows. This is a return overseas for the National Acrobatics Patrol, eagerly anticipated for over thirty years: the last experience dates back to the “Columbus 92” tour, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.
“With the arrival of the Frecce Tricolori in Canada, where in the coming days we will celebrate the 100th birthday of the Royal Canadian Air Force with our friends, the National Acrobatic Patrol's North America Tour 2024 begins. Taking aircraft and crews so far from home, through a ferry flight that pushed up to the Arctic Circle, is a demonstration of teamwork and the projection capabilities of the aerospace instrument that have been in the Italian Air Force's DNA since its inception. This is an armed force that has served the country for over a hundred years and, through the Frecce Tricolori, acts as an Italian ambassador of these values,” declared the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Division General Luca Goretti.
“We are truly excited to return after many years to these places where there is a large Italian community, which lives and daily feels a sense of nostalgia for Italian heritage, and which the Frecce Tricolori will be able to thrill with their manoeuvres and the longest Tricolore in the world over the most iconic locations in North America. Through the Frecce Tricolori – concluded General Goretti – we want to bring the values and identity of an Armed Force of men and women who every day, with cohesion, team spirit, professionalism, dedication and sacrifice, contribute to the security of the skies.”.
The tour will be a unique opportunity for thousands of aviation enthusiasts overseas to admire the capabilities of the Frecce Tricolori, an excellence also sealed by Guinness World Record like the aerobatic display team that performs with multiple aircraft (10 in total).
The tour will then continue with stops in New York, Washington, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and other US and Canadian locations where the Frecce Tricolori will once again thrill the assembled audience, unfurling the world's longest Tricolore as a testament to the professionalism and passion that have always distinguished the Air Force and the Frecce Tricolori. The North American Tour will conclude at the end of August with a final, exciting performance in Ocean City, Worcester County, Maryland.
In addition to the acrobatic performances, this tour will also be an important opportunity to promote Italy and its excellences. The Italian Air Force with the Frecce Tricolori will, in fact, be Italian Ambassadors to the world for an iconic season, under the banner of Made in Italy, a showcase for displaying our military aviation and aerospace expertise in a training activity that involves all the capabilities of the Italian Air Force.
You can follow the Frecce Tricolori tour in real time on the Air Force's social media channels to stay updated on the stages and to experience the tour through our coverage.
For in-depth information, fact sheets and materials on the North America Tour PAN, click here press kit:
Public Information Office – Rome
