"Wild Hearts" the theme of the XXXIV edition of the Turin Book Fair: the Air Force tells stories of men, skills and courage, which represent a heritage for the entire country
The presentation of the two main editorial projects that the Air Force has conceived for the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of its foundation (March 22, 28) has just ended in the late afternoon at the Turin International Book Fair (SalTo1923): the box “Aeronautica Militare: A hundred years of the future” and the series “100 years of Aeronautica Militare in comics”.
These initiatives have the purpose, in their respective declinations, of conveying the modern image of the Armed Force, deriving from its origins and traditions, to allow the general public to grasp its contemporary spirit and possible future projections, as well as the value aspects of men and women in blue uniforms.
During the presentation conference held in the Stand of the Defense Staff, moderated by the host Veronica Maya, the project "Air Force: One Hundred Years of the Future" was previewed by the Head of the 5th Communication Department of the General Staff of the 'Air Force, General of the Air Brigade Giovanni Francesco Adamo. "With the presentation of this prestigious box set, created in collaboration with Giunti publisher - General Adamo began - in fact, the path towards the 100-year milestone begins, with an avant-garde Italian Air Force, equipped with professionalism highly specialized that, with the same precursor spirit of the early years, is projected towards the future, to continue to be the protagonist in an increasingly complex and challenging international context ".
The editorial referent of the box set, Col. (r) Alessandro Cornacchini, anticipated that the work will consist of two volumes. The first is dedicated to the historical path and evolution of the Armed Force, in which prominent personalities from the academic world, journalists and historians, including Paolo Mieli, will collaborate.
The second volume, also through the evocative shots of internationally renowned photographers, will trace a cross-section of the Air Force, from which the characteristics of technology, professionalism and human factor that distinguish today's Armed Force will shine through.
The box set will be available from the first months of 2023 as announced by Dr. Alessandro Torrentelli, commercial director of Giunti Editore.
"Participation in the 34th edition of the Turin book fair assumes special importance this year: it will offer the opportunity to make ourselves known better, to tell what we do and to reaffirm that we will always be there for the country, with our spirit of service, passion and professionalism ”said the President of the working group for the celebrations of the centenary AM, General Inspector Chief (ric) GA Basilio Di Martino.
The second editorial project that was presented today at the book fair is the comic series "Centenario Aeronautica Militare", created by the Historical Office of the Air Force to pay homage to the aviators of yesterday and today and to spread the values of the Force Army. It consists of 12 graphic novels, which will be gradually published over the next few months, with the aim of maintaining the close bond between the youngest and the Armed Force and spreading the aeronautical culture. Precisely with this in mind the idea of a series of comic books was born that makes use of young emerging authors, screenwriters, designers, colorists and cover artists, to point to the generation of the so-called millennials, telling characters and events that have characterized the Aeronautica Militare in its first 100 years of history. The series is characterized by historical coherence and attention to detail, thus allowing the reader to understand even better how the facts narrated are authentic. The aircraft, uniforms, coats of arms and places have been carefully researched and documented, just to make everything more truthful. Finally, particular care was taken to best represent the expressions of the characters and to emphasize everything with adequate chromatic choices, certainly essential to involve the reader from an emotional point of view.
The first two volumes are already available to the public: "Ali su El Alamein", released in February and created by Marco Trecalli, and "In volo per la vita", the second volume of the series, already present in the stand of the Defense Staff to SalTo22.
“In volo per la vita” tells the story of three characters: two pilots and an airborne rescue worker from the Air Force on the front line to save lives, told by the pen of the journalist Vincenzo Grienti and illustrated by the cartoonist Katia Ranalli.
The graphic novel, entirely dedicated to air rescue, traces, through the memories of the protagonists, news stories of great humanitarian depth: the tragedy of the Norman Atlantic ferry of 28 December 2014 and the flood of Sarno, Quindici, Siano and Bracigliano, which occurred in Campania in May 1998. To these stories are added those of the almost daily missions of emergency medical transport and those of the high bio-containment flights carried out during the Covid-19 emergency.
The Armed Forces are present at the XXXIV edition of the International Book Fair which takes place in Turin from 19 to 23 May. There are over 30 events scheduled on the stand of the Defense Staff at the Oval pavilion of the Lingotto Fiere (Stand W114).
This year the theme of the show is “Wild Hearts”. In this context, the Armed Forces will alternate during the five days of the Book Fair at the Defense stand, presenting events and publications that will deal with topics that will range from technological innovation, essential for facing the new challenges that characterize modern operational scenarios, to its historical - cultural roots (for the detailed program see link).