The Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, General S.A. Luca Goretti, is to receive the “Wooooow” award at the XXXV Turin International Book Fair.
The Italian Air Force's participation concluded on Monday 22 May, with a large public turnout, at the 35th edition of the Turin International Book Fair (SalTo23). Almost 215,000 visitors and many works presented, created for the Centenary of the Armed Forces.
So, SalTo23 is a special edition: to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Air Force, in fact, a great many editorial products were specially created, works that allow readers to retrace the past of the ‘Arma Azzurra’, while at the same time showing today’s values and future objectives.
A great many guests who, visiting the Defence Staff stand, within which there was also the Italian Air Force's exhibition space, were able to learn about and appreciate the commitment of the Armed Forces, both in Italy and abroad.
“Today, the Air Force is even more relevant and is regarded with the proper respect in all major international forums. It is a leader in Europe and beyond. The appreciation from our colleagues and the attention we receive is not solely the result of technology and the Air Force, but also of an institutional system that believes in what we do and supports us.”, he underlined Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, during the presentation of the 100th Anniversary Celebration Box Set of AM edited by Rivista Aeronautica and Giunti Editore. The presentation of this work, moderated by the well-known television personality Eleonora Pedron, was held on Friday 19 May, in the presence of the curator of the volumes, retired Colonel Alessandro Cornacchini, former Director for many years of Rivista Aeronautica, Alessandro Torrentelli, Sales Director of Giunti Editore, Prof. Marco Lombardi, Professor of sociology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, and photographer Alessandro Barteletti, author of the most significant shots in the two volumes.
“The Box Set represents a premium product. We have tried to identify niches of excellence in each sector to present. 100 years are celebrated only once. Our goal was to offer the reader an editorial work that would be useful for enthusiasts in the sector and, at the same time, the opportunity to see in the images who we are and what we do.”, explained General Goretti to the large audience present during the presentation.
The first volume of the Box Set, titled “Italian Air Force. One Hundred Years of Future”and also containing an introductory message from the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, is dedicated to the historical journey and evolution of the Armed Force. Several prominent figures from the academic world, journalists, and historians collaborated in its creation, including Paolo Mieli, who wrote the introduction. A volume that celebrates the first century of life of the Air Force with exclusive images and testimonies.
The second volume, “Italian Air Force. Defence comes from the Sky – Identity, people and equipment”, more photographic in nature, shows the pivotal role of the Air Force, not only in our country but also beyond national borders, through expertly taken shots capable of highlighting the constant commitment of our Armed Force. A photographic volume that intends to be, first and foremost, a testament to the great passion for flying and the values that drive the personnel of the "Blue Army", a resource of means and expertise that the Defence places at the service of the country every day.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, General Luca Goretti received the prestigious “ award from the Provincial Student Council of Novara.“Wow, me and our future”The award has existed since 2012 and was established precisely to recognise those who have committed themselves to young people and their future, within their own professional sphere, and who serve as an example of the passion they have poured into their work. General Goretti thanked the students and Professor Gabriella Colla, emphasising how this award is“a tribute to all the men and women of the Air Force”.
Following this, for the first time, the Air Force also took its message outside of the Book Fair, presenting the box set of volumes in the splendid setting of Palazzo Reale. A presentation sui generis which saw the alternation on stage of actors, singers and speakers who made the history of the Blue Force even more passionate and captivating, thanks to tales from the time, testimonies and themed music. The participation of Serena Autieri was greatly appreciated, as she moved the audience by reciting intense and evocative pieces taken from the volumes themselves.
During the Show, the journalist from “La Stampa”, Antonio Lo Campo, along with Inspector General Basilio Di Martino and other authors, also presented all the editorial products created for the AM Centenary, from historical volumes to a comic book series.
“The Italian Aces of the Royal Air Force”, written by Ing. Giovanni Massimello, was instead among the volumes presented at the Ministry of Defence stand. The work helps to better understand the Aces of the Second World War: brave young men from all social backgrounds who earned the respect and admiration of all. As Engineer Massimello recalled, it is “characters, all different from one another, whose history it was important to delve into. Understanding the common thread that made them part of a single family was the most rewarding outcome of my research. The Air Force of today is also the fruit of their sacrifice.”.
The presentation of the volume “ very successful.“The Italian Air Force's fighters, from their origins to the present day” by Stefano Cosci, took place on Saturday 20 May, attended by the author, RAI journalist Maria Leitner and Captain Giulia Cagini, the first woman in Italy to have qualified on the fifth-generation F-35 aircraft. The publishing project, also produced in collaboration with Giunti Editore, is dedicated to fighter jets and tells the story of these extraordinary aircraft, which in the collective imagination represent the ultimate expression of the aeroplane.“A journey”as Cosci said in his presentation, through the technical and operational history of the Italian Air Force's fighter aircraft, starting from the First World War and arriving at today's very modern Eurofighters and F-35s.
On the same day, at the Piedmont Region stand, the “100 Years of the Air Force” conference”, which was attended by the President of the Regional Council of Piedmont, Stefano Allasia. Daniele Mauro Cerrato, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of TGR Leonardo, moderated the various topics presented, including international missions, aerospace, and the new dimensions of the future. Many prominent speakers were present, including the well-known TG1 journalist Stefania Battistini, La Stampa journalist Antonio Lo Campo, and Air Brigadier General Igor Bruni, Head of the 4th “Logistics” Department of the Air Force Staff.
On Sunday 21st May, the comic book series “100 Years of the Air Force in Comics” created by the Historical Office of the 5th Department was presented. Five volumes were presented: “Ali at El Alamein”, “Flying for life”, “The Return of the Heroes”, “Commandos”and“Firestorm”This is a collection of Graphic novels designed to reach the so-called “millennial” generation and tells the stories of our heroes from the past and present; exceptional or everyday stories that have brought prestige to the Armed Forces in its first 100 years of life.
Through all the editorial products offered, the public has not only come into contact with a past rich in history and traditions, but also with themes linked to technological innovation, fundamental for facing the new challenges that characterise modern operational scenarios.“We cannot stop at today. We must look ahead. Today we are in the 20s of the 2000s in a pioneering phase of adventure towards space, just as our predecessors, in the 20s of the 1900s, were the pioneers of normal flight. Our frontier is becoming space and technology must help us reach this dimension.”, these were the words of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squad General Luca Goretti, concluding his visit to the Turin Book Fair.
