The longest Tricolor in the world. The largest aerobatic team in the world. The only patrol that has never canceled a performance for technical reasons. These are just some of the firsts that come to mind when embarking for Rivolto, where the Air Force is celebrating 60 years of the Frecce tricolori today with an air show that will be broadcast live on Rai1 from 3.45 pm and streamed on the web channels of the Armed Force and of the Defence. A national, or rather national-popular holiday, which demonstrates and reciprocates the affection of the Italians for the training that brings the values and professionalism of pilots, specialists, workers, industry, the Air Force to the skies. In short, of an important slice of Italy.
A communication tool so exceptional that in 2020 – when the demonstration had to be suspended due to Covid-19 – the Frecce tricolori were called to fly over Italian cities as a sign of solidarity and hope against the epidemic. In addition to increasing the wait, the forced postponement led the demonstration to coincide more exactly with the anniversary. AT THE BEGINNING IT WAS CRISIS
Management manuals teach how to transform crises into opportunities. The Frecce tricolori were born just like that. Traditionally, after the war, the role of national acrobatic team (Pan) was played in turn by the formations that at the time all the hunting departments prepared: “Prancing horse” for the 4th Wing / Aerobrigata, “White Tigers” for the 51st Aeiesenbrigata of Istrana, “Black Lancers” for the 2nd Aerobrigata, “Thundering Jets” for the 5th Aerobrigata, “Red Devils” for the 6th Aerobrigata, each with its own distinctive livery. The titular patrol was joined by a reserve one, ready to take over the following year.
In 1960, the year of the Rome Olympics, Pan’s role was played by the Thundering Jets with their F-84F Thunderstreak jets, which in 1961 the Prancing Horse on F-86E Saber was to follow. The Quarto was the most noble department in Italy and, with the transformation of the 1st Wing into a missile department, it had taken up the baton as a temple of collective acrobatics.
But something is wrong. Despite several attempts and leader changes, the spell was broken. The last part of 1960 saw many wondering about the opportunity to create a permanent patrol, able to preserve and transmit the experience gradually accumulated. Collecting proposals that came from the various souls of the Air Force, on January 16, 1961 the General Staff broke the delay. Major Mario Squarcina was called to head the new 313 ° Acrobatic Training Group, formalized on March 1, 1961., former leader of the Red Devils formation. A few days later, the first 4a pilots moved from Grosseto to Rivolto with their F-86Es, without any special livery. The first official release took place on May 1, 1961, in Trento, with four planes plus a soloist. There was still no name, no numbers, no today’s legend. As expected, this heritage built up over time, in parallel with the transition to new machines (first the G.91, from the 1964 season, then the MB.339, from 1982). BETWEEN MYTH AND PROFESSION
The history of aerial acrobatics, first individual and then collective, is almost as long as that of flight: over a century, in which we have gone from recklessness to rigor, from audacity to training. The same applies to the tasks: the exasperated competition and an end in itself between the different departments, always looking for something more than what had already been done by “the others”, has long since given way to demonstrating aware of professional skills and of the possibilities of industry in a safe setting. Scrupulous maintenance, continuous training, analysis of each flight are the tools through which the Patrol carries out its duties.
The pilots always come from the “tactical” departments of the Air Force: in practice, interceptors and bombers, although the distinction is increasingly losing meaning with the birth of “omnirole” aircraft. The selection includes minimum levels of experience, but also the assessment of interpersonal skills and common work: an essential requirement for those who have to maneuver a few meters from their colleague, at many hundreds of kilometers per hour. From D’Annunzio “daring the inosable” to the “normal pilot with special training”, this is an important evolution, completely parallel to the transformation of the profession of military and civil pilot and, more generally, of Italian society. I can also say this because, teaching for many years in the Air Force Academy,Gaetano Farina .
The pilots rotate in their assignments, not only within the formation, but also returning to the operational departments and, sometimes, returning to carry out complex positions of leader or soloist. This rotation does not contradict Squarcina’s initial idea, but on the contrary, it serves to bring fresh ideas and energies to the Patrol and spread their spirit through the Armed Force. Not surprisingly, two commanders of the Frecce tricolori were in recent years commanders of the 4 ° Stormo, from which the Pan was taken in 1961. Another trace of that origin is the radio call “Pony”, that is, “little horse”, in fact insignia of the 4th Wing that had inherited it from the 91st Squadron of the ace Francesco Baracca . A TRADITION THAT LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
Traditionally, the Frecce tricolori celebrate “at home” with a large event every five years, at the beginning and at the end of each decade. Due to Covid, the appointment has been skipped in 2020, further confirming that the Armed Forces are an integral part of the country and share its challenges and successes. The containment of the epidemic, also thanks to the contribution of the Defense, is a central element for the conduct of the party, albeit with anti-crowding limitations that have made it even more difficult to satisfy the general public of local, Italian and international fans. (Yes, because there is also a tourism of air shows, with people planning vacations and trips around these events).
To mark the anniversary, the MB.339PANs received a commemorative livery which essentially consists in the application of a historical livery on the keel of each aircraft. The idea, developed by the graphic designer Mirco Pecorari , means that each MB.339 ideally flies together with one of its illustrious predecessors, as a sign of continuity and generational turnover. In short, the photos taken at Rivolto today and tomorrow will be immediately recognizable and will immediately date the event in the decades to come.
In a few years – four, if the traditional dates will be resumed; five, if the five-year deadline is favored – the landscape will change completely. According to the schedule, the MB.339, in service for almost 40 years now, a first among the patrols, will be replaced by the new M-345 basic trainers, which Leonardo is starting to deliver now and which after having re-equipped the flight schools will go precisely to the Patrol.
On the other hand, the ability of precision manual conduct, once inherent in all military civil aviators, is today more challenging for the new generations trained on machines in which digital controls, electronics and various automatisms increasingly occupy the space they once were. of the pilot. The challenge will be more and more important in the years to come. See you in 2025, then!
