Colonel Marco Lant has handed over command of the 313th Aerobatic Training Group to Major Jan Slangen. The ceremony, presided over by the Commander of the Air Squad, Air Squad General Tiziano Tosi, and attended by the Commander of the Combat Forces, Air Division General Roberto Nordio, was also attended by the highest civil and military authorities of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. In his farewell speech, Colonel Lant was able to express the emotion of the many years spent in the ranks of the National Aerobatic Team, which began in 2000 as a wingman, then as Head of Formation, and finally, from 2010, as Commander. He thanked everyone (colleagues, superiors, citizens, institutions, and organisations) for the dedication, support, and closeness shown towards the PAN. Upon taking command, Major Slangen, the 21st Commander of the “Frecce Tricolori”, while wishing his predecessor even greater success and thanking the Armed Forces’ leadership for entrusting him with this prestigious role, wished to highlight the great professionalism of the men he is about to command, and how they themselves are a true team made up of many different skills. General Tosi, in his speech, at the conclusion of the ceremony, wished to underline the strong bond between the Friuli region and the Air Force, a bond clearly visible also in the participation in today's ceremony, which brought together authorities, enthusiasts, and friends of the Frecce Tricolori in the maintenance hangar. Major pilot Jan Slangen was born in Rome on 11 July 1975.
From 1994 to 1999, he attended the “Rostro III” regular course at the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli (NA), achieving the rank of Second Lieutenant of the Air Force, in the Normal Navigators role. He holds a degree in Aeronautical Sciences from the University of Naples Federico II. He obtained his aeroplane pilot licence on an SF-260 aircraft at the 70th Wing in Latina on 29/11/1994. He obtained his military pilot licence on a Northprop T-38 aircraft at Sheppard Air Force Base (USA) on 21/06/1999. In 1996, with the rank of Lieutenant, he was assigned to the 32nd Wing in Amendola where, after attending the qualification course on the MB-339 aircraft at the 61st Wing in Lecce, he attended the Operational Conversion Course on the AM-X aircraft. During his time at the 32nd Wing, after holding the position of Squadron Pilot, he assumed the position of Commander of the 76th Squadron of the 13th Flying Group. He also held the positions of Head of Flight Safety Office at R.A.M.I. Goose Bay and Head of AM-X Aerotactical Section, Flying Group – R.A.V. Nellis A.F.B. (USA) during overseas deployments. In 2004, with the rank of Captain, he was assigned to the 313th Aerobatic Training Group ’Frecce Tricolori“. In 2005, he qualified as a Specialty Instructor in Aerobatics Category, and in 2011, he qualified as a Specialty Instructor in CBR Operational Tactics.
Within the training formation, he flew as 2nd Left Wingman (Pony 7), 1st Left Wingman (Pony 2), and Flight Leader (Pony 1), completing over 200 aerial displays in Italy and abroad. Major Slangen has accumulated 2,800 flight hours on SF-260, MB-339 aircraft (versions A and PAN), T-37, T-38, and AM-X aircraft. He has been awarded the Silver Aeronautical Military Medal for Long Air Navigation, the Silver Cross for Service Longevity, and the honour of “Commander” of the National Order of the Cedar of the Lebanese Republic.
Buongiorno Regione Friuli on 26/10/2012 Tgr Friuli Venezia Giulia, 25/10/2012
