The significant milestone was celebrated in Ciampino, home of the 31st Wing, on Friday 28 April.
27 November 1985the first Falcon 50 joins the Italian Air Force, at the 31st Wing in Ciampino. 9 February 2023, during one of the many life-saving flights“ which the Department carries out daily, a Falcon 900Ex EAsy II, the latest version of the Dassault transport aircraft in service with the Armed Forces, reaches the milestone of 150,000 flying hours overall of the entire Italian Air Force Falcon fleet.
A fleet that, over the years, has expanded and been updated with a series of models: from the Falcon 50s, delivered between 1985 and 1991, to the introduction into service – from 1999 – of the Falcon 900Ex, an improved and enhanced version of the predecessor Falcon 50, up to the introduction into service, in 2005, of the new Falcon 900Ex Easy IIs, with completely updated avionics.
Aircraft used for medium-range transport within the national territory but which, if necessary after a technical stop, have travelled skies of the world – Europe, Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia – and, still today, they are employed to carry out air transport activities to satisfy the mobility needs of Former officeholders of State, Government and Military top brass, and also for the Urgent medical transport and transport for humanitarian reasons of patients in imminent danger of death, medical teams, organs, for the benefit of the national community, as well as for interventions in favour of People at risk.
This flattering operational milestone was highlighted, last Friday 28 April, with a simple ceremony, sponsored by Dassault Aviation e Dassault Falcon Service, which took place at one of the hangars of the 31st Wing, chaired by the Commander, Mobility and Support Forces, Air Division General Enrico Degni, and in the presence of Mayor of Ciampino Emanuela Colella and numerous guests, including representatives from Dassault Aviation, Jean Kayanakis, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Falcon Customer Service & Service Centre Network at Dassault Aviation, and Pierre-Etienne Aubin, General Manager of Dassault Falcon Service.
A large contingent of the Wing's personnel, along with many former members of the unit, commanders, crews, and specialists who were key players in many of the hours flown on the line, also attended the event.
It Commander of the 31st Wing, Colonel Gianmattia Somma, whilst thanking those present for attending and all who made the event possible, wished to underline how “a milestone of this kind, very significant for the Department and the entire Armed Force, is clear evidence of the commitment, passion and professionalism of those who have worked and continue to work on these assets, aircraft that have made the history of the Wing and that represent a certainly virtuous example of collaboration and synergy with a first-rate company at world level such as Dassault.“.
At the end of the ceremony, the Falcon 50 Special Colour created to celebrate 150,000 flight hours.
