The air show held in Pratica di Mare this weekend, which had among its guests the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and representatives of the Government and Institutions, registered the record participation of over three hundred thousand people
The three-day party organized by the Air Force at the “M. De Bernardi” in Pratica di Mare. Present the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, the Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, the Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, and numerous other political, civil and military authorities.
Over three hundred thousand people, including many foreigners, witnessed an exciting and unrepeatable show, destined to remain a milestone of the Air Force. An event "for the people and with the people”, as stated on several occasions by the Chief of General Staff of the Air Force Luca Goretti, who – after a dutiful greeting to the President of the Republic and to all the guests present – stated: “This large audience participation is motivated by our desire to continuously transfer our passion, our desire to make ourselves known, especially by young people. We are projected towards the next hundred years - explained General Goretti -, and we are already ready to experience our possibilities and potential in Space. A beautiful future awaits us, at least like our past".
The minister Crosetto he added: "The Air Force has been serving the country for a hundred years by combining human capabilities with very high technology. It is the Armed Forces that intervene to evacuate Italian citizens from Sudan; the same one that takes care of transporting patients in danger of life or organs for urgent transplants at any time of day or night; which runs to the aid of populations affected by public calamities".
The flight program was one of a kind: the replica of the Caproni Ca.3 and the iconic G.91R with the livery of the National Acrobatic Patrol, specially restored for the occasion, were exhibited, while the younger ones saw flying for the historic TF-104 fighter for the first time. The most modern assets were represented, among others, by the C-27J Spartan, by the HH-101A and HH-139 helicopters – used in SAR rescue demonstrations – as well as by Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35, pillars of the defense national air.
Also for the first time, the public was able to walk in the “Field 100” and relive the history of the Air Force: the route, which from above reproduced the Centenary logo over an area of 4 hectares, led visitors among original aircraft or their perfect reproductions, set-ups of period material and extras, which have given life to extremely realistic representations for sounds, colors and images.
Over 40 aircraft are present in the static area – including Ansaldo SVA, SF-260, AMX, Tornado, T-346, AB-212, C-130J, KC-767A, P-72, Predator MQ-1 –, while the 'Pizzarotti Hangar has been dedicated to the specific capabilities of the Air Force, which also include integrated missile air defence, emergency medical transport, meteorological service and projection logistics. A lot of technology, including robotics and cyber security, also told visitors about lesser-known aspects and professionalism of the Armed Forces, but which are acquiring ever greater value in everyday operational life.
This event also helped to support the initiative "A gift from heaven for AIRC”, charity collection promoted by the Air Force in favor of oncological research, whose funds will be used for the purchase of latest generation machinery for IFOM, the Foundation Institute of Molecular Oncology.
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