The Air Force and the Wefly! Team, the only air patrol in the world in which two of the three pilots are "disabled", together for the first time for a major flight event dedicated to overcoming barriers.
Saturday 22 June, from 9.30 to 17.30, the Military Airport of Guidonia (Rome) will be the scene of a "Pilot for a day" day in which people with disabilities can experience the thrill of flying with pilots and airplanes. of WeFly! Team, coordinated in the activities by the staff of the 60th Wing of the Italian Air Force. A way to show everyone that, with due commitment and the right motivation, all the difficulties in life can be faced and overcome and even disability rather than a limit can become an opportunity. The flying activity will be carried out thanks to the collaboration with Coloplast and will see the participation of some athletes of the Gspd, the Paralympic Defense Sports Group.
Furthermore, the Italian Air Force will provide an exhibition area with static gliders and Siai S-208 aircraft from the 60th Wing, the mock-up of the Pan Mb339 aircraft and a playful flight simulator.
"It is a great honor for us to be able to share this experience with our 'cousins' of the Air Force - commented Alessandro Paleri, leader of the patrol - during the Air shows we often meet with the Frecce Tricolori and the Experimental Flight Department but it is the first time that we organize a similar initiative together on an Air Force airport. We are sure that we will give wonderful dreams to the people who will fly with us and who will be able to admire the airplanes and gliders of the 60th Wing up close. We hope this is only the first step in a long and fruitful collaboration ”.
The WeFly! Team was born in 2007 and since then, as spokesperson for the National Federation of disabled pilots "Broken Barons", has brought the Italian flag to the most important air shows around the world, enjoying approval and success everywhere. Alessandro Paleri, leader, with about 3 thousand flight hours, quadriplegic since 1987 and Marco Cherubini, left wingman, with about 2 thousand hours of flight, paraplegic since 1995, do not have the use of legs and fly their ultralight aircraft only with your hands, thanks to a special command, designed and built by Alessandro himself who is an aerospace engineer. Fly with them, as right wingman, Erich Kustatscher, instructor with almost 30 thousand flight hours to his credit on airplanes and helicopters.
In 2014, during the ASI “Futura” space mission, the Italian ESA astronaut and pilot of the Italian Army, Samantha Cristoforetti, with the “WeFly! with Futura… dare to fly ", brought the team flag into Space, conceived by aeronautical designer Mirco Pecorari, to share with all humanity a message of inclusion against stereotypes and prejudices and to testify to strength, courage and determination of these special drivers. In 2018, the WeFly! Team has twinned with the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, with which it shares ideals of altruism and attention to social issues.