The AM, present with numerous assets, will for the first time carry out a search and rescue mission demonstration outside the national borders with the HH-139
The Italian Air Force participates in this year's edition of the Royal International Air Tattoo (Fairford, United Kingdom, 14-16 July) with a massive presence of aircraft and helicopters, as part of the celebrations for the 28th anniversary of its establishment as autonomous armed force, on March 1923, XNUMX.
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. SA Luca Goretti said: "The important participation of the Air Force in the Royal International Air Tattoo 2023 is both an opportunity to celebrate its first 100 years of history - also in the ambit of one of the most prestigious air shows in the world – is a great opportunity to underline the fruitful collaboration between Italy and the United Kingdom: two great countries, among the few in the world, equipped with more than XNUMX-year-old air forces and among the most advanced on the international scene” .
The thematic area called ITAF100, set up by the RIAT organization, hosts some of the key assets of the Air Force, including: G-550 CAEW, P-72, C-130J, U-208, Tornado, AMX and C- 27J. The presence of the KC-767A - which makes the Armed Force one of the few in the world with in-flight refueling capabilities - and the HH-101 - helicopter capable of being refueled in flight and therefore more projectable and effective in operations – are also part of the celebrations that RIAT dedicates to the 100th anniversary of the first air-to-air refuelling. ITAF100 also includes aircraft that have been part of the history of the Italian Air Force, made available by private individuals. Among these the De Havilland Vampire FB.52 and the FIAT G.46.
Among the in-flight displays, the 15th Wing will perform, for the first time outside the national borders, the demo of a search and rescue (SAR - Search And Rescue) mission with an HH-139 helicopter. Instead, the Flight Experimental Department is making a comeback, with Eurofighter Typhoon and T-346A displays. Just last year the Reparto Sperimentale di Volo team was awarded by the RIAT organization with “The Sir Douglas Bader Trophy” for the best solo performance of the C-27J.
The Air Force and the British Royal Air Force have a long-standing collaboration which was recently strengthened with the signing, last May, of an agreement which provides for the training (Phase IV) of student pilots and pilots instructors (Instructor Pilot) at the International Flight Training School (IFTS) of Decimomannu (CA). The IFTS is internationally recognized as a center of excellence and a point of reference in the advanced training of pilots destined for 4th and 5th generation fighters and makes use of the experience and tradition of the Air Force and of the Italian technological capabilities, represented from the syllabus of the integrated training system based on the T-346A.