Today, at the military airport of Galatina, in the presence of the Undersecretary of State for Defense, Hon. Angelo Tofalo, of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force General of SA Alberto Rosso and of the engineer Lucio Valerio Cioffi, Head of Aircraft Division of Leonardo Spa, was held the ceremony of delivery of the "Eagles Turrite", symbol of the military pilot's patent, delivered to six Italian students, two students of the French Air Armor and seven of Kuwait Air Force.
For the first time, French pilot officers have been patented in the Italian flight school on Italian aircraft. An important event from the perspective of European cooperation in the field of training, which takes on particular significance if you consider that, just over a hundred years ago, Francesco Baracca - Ace of the Aces and gold medal for military valor during the First World War - he obtained his pilot's license in France, on French aircraft.
In his greeting address the colonel Alberto Surace, Commander of the 61st Wing, presented the Galatina flight school, which has been training pilots since 1946 and which today can boast the presence of students and instructors from eight foreign countries. An international reality increasingly the object of attention from aeronautics around the world, which offers unique skills in the training sector and an innovative integrated system for flight training among the most advanced, based on the combination T339 and T346. “You must be proud of the achievement” - said Col. Surace addressing the newly patented - “the result of sacrifices, dedication and a lot of commitment. No matter which skies you will sail, make sure that the values that guided Francesco Baracca accompany you always and everywhere ”.
Il Gen. Red in his speech, he underlined that "the most sophisticated technology is not worth much if not supported by the quality of the human element and teamwork" and then turned an excited and sincere wish to the newly patented so that they can capitalize on the investment put into from the Armed Force, "with responsibility, pride and enthusiasm in the service of the country".
Il Undersecretary TofaloIn his speech, he highlighted how "the Italian military technology and training model are at the forefront and how these skills are recognized by everyone, especially by the nations that entrust the basic and advanced training of their pilots to the Italian Air Force. History, traditions, technology and the human element make the blue weapon one of the flagships of Italy, loved and appreciated all over the world ".
The 61st Wing, dependent on the AM / 3rd Air Region School Command of Bari, provides for the training of pilots for the aerotactic lines aircraft, such as Tornado, AMX, Typhoon and the most modern 5th generation aircraft such as the F35. Once this phase of flight training has been completed, the new military pilots will remain in Galatina to attend, at the 212th Flying Group, also the next phase, preparatory to use on aerotactic aircraft. The protagonist of the so-called phase IV is the T346A aircraft, the latest generation advanced trainer built by Leonardo and supplied to the Italian Air Force, possessing absolutely cutting-edge features both from the avionic point of view and in flight performance. The T346 is the core of the integrated training system that also uses innovative simulation technologies that allow pilots to interact with aircraft in flight, as part of the same training mission.
The training activity of the 61 ° Stormo is addressed to student pilots of the Air Force, other Armed Forces and allied / partner countries, in all flight phases according to the requests of each country.
With this ceremony, the Salento air base consolidates the international vocations expressed since its establishment and is confirmed as a flying school in possession of the most advanced training systems in the world destined to expand with the International Flight Training School project, which in synergy with Leonardo it will enhance the training output for the Armed Force, also allowing it to meet the growing demand for international partners.