Lieutenant Colonel Massimiliano Salvatore has handed over command of the 313th Acrobatic Training Group to Lieutenant Colonel Franco Paolo Marocco.
Thursday 28 November, at the hangar of 313th Aerobatic Training Group “Frecce Tricolori”, the Change of Command Ceremony was held National Acrobatic Patrol between Lieutenant Colonel Massimiliano Salvatore, outgoing Commander, and the Lieutenant Colonel Franco Paolo Marocco, Incoming Commander.
The Ceremony, presided over by Air Division General Marco Lant, Commander of Combat Forces, the participation of the highest military and civil authorities of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region was seen.
As is traditional, the ground event was preceded by a symbolic handover in flight, a unique moment that occurs exclusively on the occasion of the change of command and represents a peculiar feature of the Frecce Tricolori's aerobatic programme.
During the display, the formation executed a series of manoeuvres culminating in Lieutenant Colonel Salvatore's detachment, thus sealing the official handover of command to Lieutenant Colonel Marocco.
In his welcome speech, the Ten. Col. Salvatore he expressed the emotion for the years spent with the National Acrobatic Patrol, beginning as a wingman and culminating in the role of soloist from 2019 to 2022. He thanked the men and women of the Frecce Tricolori for the work carried out and his family for their constant support, emphasising the importance of the 313th Group's mission. With great emotion he declared: “The extraordinary ability of this Group to touch people’s hearts is a treasure trove of memories and experiences that I will cherish dearly for the rest of my life and which will be my source of inspiration to face new challenges.”.
Assuming Command as the 26th Commander of the Frecce Tricolori, the Lt Col Marocco He expressed his gratitude: “I am fortunate to be embarking on this new role with a group of extraordinary people, excellent professionals who represent a unique blend of skills, technical capabilities, and workflows that are as rigorous as they are flexible and effective.”.
The interventions were closed by General Lant che, after addressing the representatives of the institutions with a greeting, he underlined how: “Today's ceremony expresses a solemn and pivotal moment, which makes public a process that nonetheless occurs every day, albeit in silence, when each of us is gradually called upon to nurture those who will succeed us, to gather, safeguard, and pass on what we have learned so that we may only improve, continuing to recreate and perfect the art of collective aerobatic flight.”.
It 313° Aerobatic Training Group, this is the official designation of the Frecce Tricolori, is a Flight Section of the Italian Air Force made up of around 100 military personnel, whose task it is to represent the capabilities of the entire Armed Force.
Since 1st March 1961, the date of its establishment at Rivolto Air Base (UD), the Italian Air Force Aerobatic Team, which recently concluded its 64th season, has had the honour of representing, with its spectacular aerial acrobatics, the over 40,000 men and women of the Air Force and the values they uphold every day: cohesion, team spirit, professionalism, dedication, and sacrifice. This makes it a symbol of our Armed Forces and of Italy in the world.
