The national aerobatic patrol returns to perform in the province of Foggia after twenty years
The Italian Air Force participated in the air show “Vieste Air Show 2022” on the Gargano coastline last June 26th, organised by the Aeroclub of Bari in collaboration with the Municipal Administration of Vieste.
It had been since the “Blue Day” in 2002, held at Amendola airport – home of the 32nd Wing – that the province of Foggia had hosted an airshow of such magnitude.
A large audience was able to witness the performance of various Italian Air Force aircraft. The air show began with the notes of the national anthem, while an HH-139 helicopter from the 15th Wing of Cervia flew over the coastline with the Tricolore. Following this, the crew of the same helicopter simulated a rescue and recovery mission of a shipwrecked person at sea.
The Italian Air Force's aircraft were among the main stars of the event's flying display: two Eurofighter The 4th Wing simulated the interception of a civilian aircraft experiencing a loss of radio contact, one of the most recurring scenarios in air defence activities carried out by the Armed Force's interceptor fighter jets – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Also noteworthy was the participation of an aircraft AMX from the 51st Wing of Istrana, which showed the public the aircraft's high versatility by performing a CAS (Close Air Support) mission simulationClose Air Support), close air support missions, within which an “engagement” by a J-TAC was also simulated.Joint Tactical Air Controllerhighly specialised personnel who have the fundamental role of directing aircraft in the field onto the assigned target.
Suggestive and exciting was the entrance of an F35A from the 13th Flight Group of the 32nd Wing. The 5th generation aircraft simulated close-quarters aerial combat with a hostile aircraft, demonstrating its extraordinary capabilities and potential through evolutions and turns at very high angles of attack and maximum load factor, as well as impressive acceleration.
The Commander of the Air Force Schools and of the 3rd Air Region, Air Force General Silvano Frigerio, speaking on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, stated: “Every day we are away from the spotlight and the public eye, but daily, through diligent training, we demonstrate operational capabilities in order to guarantee the defence and security of the country. We are therefore talking about the defence of national and NATO airspace, and SAR (Search and Rescue).Search and Rescue), rescuing missing persons, transporting citizens in imminent danger of their lives, because the Air Force has the privilege of saving human lives. Likewise, where necessary, we operate outside national borders with our aircraft and personnel, for example in Iceland, the Baltic, on NATO's eastern flank and in Iraq. Air shows like this allow the Air Force to get even closer to the citizens, demonstrating many of these operational capabilities in service to the country, in addition to the excellence of the Frecce Tricolori, the calling card of the Armed Force, the Defence, and the country worldwide.“.
The Frecce Tricolori held the public spellbound with 25 minutes of displays, a programme which, thanks to intense and continuous training, allows them to draw eighteen incredible acrobatic “figures” in the sky – with less than two metres between each aircraft. Among these, the “figure" of the“bomb“, performed worldwide by PAN alone, that of the “heart”and of the“spark“.
“To perform again after two years among people, for people, generates enormous enthusiasm and pride in us., declared Lt Col Stefano Vit, Commander of the 313th Aerobatic Training Group “Frecce Tricolori”. “The affection and passion that the public shows us are our greatest reward, the result of work done by simple people and based on sound principles for representing our country, both in Italy and abroad.”.
The evening before the event, a sign of close collaboration between all the military and civilian bodies involved in the organisation of the Air Show, a concert was held at the Vieste amphitheatre by the Band of the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Region of Bari, conducted by 1st Lgt. Nicola Cotugno, whose repertoire, among other things, paid tribute to the masters Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota.
