2026 Training

The aircraft supplied is the mighty F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber, while the team's designation, “holder” from the 1958 season, recalls the badge of the 6th Aerobrigata. Initially, the “Red Devils” fly a formation of four aircraft, which soon becomes six with the last F-84F “tail-ender” acting as a “solo” to capture the audience's attention during the formation's absence from the sky.

It is with this patrol that the ’bomb“ manoeuvre, already in the repertoire of our aerobatic teams, is performed downwards for the first time. In a competition reserved for NATO aerobatic teams in Holland, the ”Red Devils“ came in first place, beating the teams from Belgium, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, the United States and Turkey.

For the 1959 season, the Air Force has as many as three patrols: the “Black Lancers” (reserves in 1958) of the 2nd Air Brigade are listed as “starters,” flying first with four and then with six F-86Es, the “Thunderjets” of the 5th Air Brigade are the “reserves,” now on F-84Fs, and then there are also the “Red Devils.”.

In addition to being the first Italian aerobatic team to perform in the United Kingdom, the “Black Lancers” undertook a historic mission, flying to Iran at the invitation of the Shah of Persia. Memorable in the same year was the tour of the “Red Devils” pilots in the United States.

The F-84Fs made available by the USAF are fitted with a slightly less powerful turbojet, but the Italian pilots don't notice a difference! 

The Thunderbirds are another great comeback, and in a special year at that, 1960, the year of the Rome Olympics, with the whole world looking at our country with admiration.

The “Thunder Jets” now fly with the F-84F, sporting a flamboyant Olympic livery with bright colours and the five rings on the tail. The formation consists of six aircraft, with the last one splitting off from the patrol. Key manoeuvres in the “Thunder Jets” programme are the double barrel roll and the “bomb”, which, according to 5th Air Brigade tradition, is carried out upwards with a subsequent crossing at a very low altitude.

Complex manoeuvres, but equally highly spectacular, still in the PAN's repertoire. Another return is that of the F-86E of the “Cavallino Rampante” patrol which, for 1960, act as reserves. In the meantime, however, based on the experience gained and with the aim of rationalising the use of both human resources and aircraft, the Air Force decides to discontinue the practice of assigning the task of forming the principal and reserve aerobatic patrol on a rotating basis amongst the various Air Brigades.

The 313th Group is about to be formed in Rivolto.