This year's event theme: “Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space”
This year too, the Italian Air Force participated in the air show “Royal International Air Tattoo 2024” (RIAT), organised from 19 to 21 July at the Royal Air Force Fairford in England. The Blue Force was represented by pilots, engineers, specialists and aircraft from the Experimental Flight Department of the Aerial Experimentation Division for Aeronautics and Space at Pratica di Mare.
The operational theme of this year's event was centred on “Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space”(Exceeding Boundaries in Air and Space), thus implying the activity of Test & Evaluation in the world of modern aviation. A very relevant topic for the RSV, whose institutional task is to support the operational departments of the Air Force through the experimentation, integration and validation of new weapon systems and the modifications to be applied to those already in operation within the Armed Force.
During the days of the event, three different RSV configurations took off for the in-flight technical demonstrations: the advanced trainer T-346A Master, the high-performance fighter Eurofighter Typhoon, and the transport aircraft C-27J Spartan, highlighted national technological excellence and the technical and professional training of the Armed Force's personnel. The crew of the C-27J aircraft, in particular, performed uncommon manoeuvres for this type of aircraft, enhancing the plane's flight qualities, amazing the public with a technical demonstration and, once again, winning the The Sir Douglas Bader Trophy for the Best Individual Flying Display, an award already won in 2022 and 2011. In 1997 and 1989, the same award was won by the Flight Experimental Department with the aircraft G-222.
Present also the 6th Wing in Ghedi (BS) with a Tornado Special Colour on static display which performed a fly-past in formation with other aircraft to celebrate the 75th anniversary of NATO.
Great enthusiasm and appreciation from the international public present at the event across the Channel for the Armed Force, and always a warm welcome reserved by the organisation of RIAT and by our English colleagues from the Royal Air Force to the Italian Air Force, a lasting collaboration and mutual respect between the two Air Forces.
The Air Experimentation Department of Aeronautics and Space brings together, under a single command, all the Aeronautics Military Study and Experimentation Bodies.
The Division is the main consultancy body for the Armed Force and Defence Administration for flight testing of aircraft and weapon systems, chemical-physical analysis and evaluation of structural and consumable materials, training and experimentation in the field of aerospace medicine, operational software management and operational verification of weapon systems.
Among the Departments dependent on the DASAS, the Experimental Flight Department has the task of supporting the Air Force Operations Departments through the experimentation, it development, the’integration and the Validation of new weapon systems or those that have been modified. In response, furthermore, to the changing geopolitical, social, and economic context, the RSV has given a significant boost to activities supporting Operational Units, essentially through the tool of operational technical certification which allows for the rapid and autonomous implementation of Technological solutions able to meet new requirements in hostile theatres.
