In Europe, there are many top aerobatic teams, but one formation enjoys
something of a cult status. It is the team of the Aeronautica Militare, the Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale, better known as FRECCE TRICOLORI. For more than 40 years now, this team has belonged to the world's top class in
its trade. Hardly any aerobatic team can fill the crowd at home or anywhere in the world with such enthusiasm as the legendary Frecces. The fascination of the FRECCE TRICOLORI is increasing more and more. There
are more than 100 fan clubs existing world wide, 86 of them in Italy. Their popularity in their home country can only be compared to the popularity of Ferrari - another reason for us to have a closer look at this excellent team.
The history of military aerobatics in Italy goes back to the 1920ies. When
some high ranked Italian officers visited Great Britain at that time, one of the newly founded aerobatic teams put on a display for them. The Italians were taken with the idea that the fine art of formation flying and the
necessary discipline would definitely improve the flying skills of their military pilots. Back home in Italy, they immediately founded a new unit at Campoformido airfield, home of the 1st wing of the Regia Aeronautica. The
famous SCUOLA di CAMPOFORMIDO was born. A short time after that, the commanding officer at Campoformido, the charismatic aviation pioneer Col. Rino Corso Fougier, with the full support of the Italian general staff,
established the first formation consisting of five aircraft.
In the 30ies, it was very common for every fighter wing to have its own
aerobatics formation. At that time, there was hardly any other country where aerobatic formation flying played such an important role as in Italy. Anyway, all efforts on that sector were immediately stopped when the
Second World War broke out. However, the pilots of the Allied Forces had to experience the effect of aerobatics training on the quality and skills of the Italian fighter pilots on many occasions. Although being usually inferior
technically as well as in terms of numbers, the Italian pilots were very serious opponents in a dogfight. The allied pilots certified that they were real acrobats in the air, but nevertheless lacked a well thought out tactical
concept. This, however, had nothing to do with their flying skills.
After WW II, the re-establishment of the Air Force quickly went on, as well
as the integration into the newly founded NATO. The strong relationship to aerobatic flying was still there, and during the 50ies, several aerobatic
teams were founded, such as the ”Lancieri Neri”, ”Cavallino Rampante”, ”Getti Tonanti”, or ”Diavoli Rossi”. All these teams flew either F-84 or F-86
jets. In 1961, the general staff decided to establish one full time national aerobatics team, consisting of the crème de la crème of the Aeronautica Militare pilots, to represent the Italian Air Force and the Italian nation at
home and abroad. The name of this team was P.A.N. - Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale, but internationally the team became famous as the FRECCE TRICOLORI ( three-coloured arrows). A legend was born.
The newly founded 313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico ( Aerobatic
Training Squadron ) had its home base in Rivolto in Northern Italy - not far away from the former base Campoformido. The first command was given to Maggiore (Major) Mario Squarcina. From the beginning, the Frecce flew with
ten aircraft, consequently forming the largest military aerobatic team world wide. Between the years 1961 and 1963 they flew the Canadair F-86E Sabres license built from North American equipped with an Orenda engine).
After that, they switched to the Italian built FIAT G-91 PAN. This type of aircraft remained in service until the end of the 1981 season, when it was replaced by the aircraft currently in use, the Aermacchi M.B.339 PAN.
The relatively small Aermacchi M.B.339 just looks like it was created
especially for the Frecce Tricolori. It offers a roomy cockpit, providing excellent visibility in all directions and is suitable for aerobatic flying. This enables the Frecce's solo pilot to perform manoeuvres which cannot be
displayed by other teams. One example is the “Tailslide” manoeuvre, when the solo aircraft pulls into the vertical, letting the speed drop down to zero, slides backwards, spins around and falls back to earth while continuing to
spin until the pilot pulls his aircraft out without problems. Another example is the spectacular “Crazy flight” manoeuvre with gear down at very low altitude.
The flying personnel of the Frecces consists of 13 pilots. The present commander is Ten.Col.Pil. (Lieutenant Colonel) Paolo Tarantino
Commandante Tarantino has previously flown the Lockheed F-104 ASA and the Fiat G-91T. Since 1996 he has been an active member of the P.A.N. He had the positions No. 2, 7 and 1, before he took over as the team's
commander last year. The weeding out process is extremely strict, but it is basically not very different from other teams. At the end of each season, one or two of the best Aeronautica Militare pilots are handpicked to join the
team. More or less, they have the status of guest pilots and they have to work hard to earn a permanent place in the team. In 2004, the so-called ”Pilota in Addestramento” (pilot in training) was Ten.Pil. Dario Paoli.
During the winter months, the team has an intensive training programme, when the new pilots are integrated in the team and the more experienced
team members get a new position within the formation. Additionally, during that time, all pilots have to renew their combat readiness status, in order to be capable of taking over their original tasks when they return to their
home units. Pilot training is not the only important aspect of the training. Also the technicians are under constant pressure to bring the maximum performance. Even among the ground personnel, only the best get their
chance to work for the Frecce Tricolori. In such a professional environment, nobody can afford to make mistakes - neither in the air nor on the ground.
Well, what do the FRECCE TRICOLORI have that others don‘t? What makes
the special character of this team? Is it the excellent flying skills? The vivacious display? We had the opportunity to meet the former commander Ten. Col. Pil. Maurizio de Rinaldis in Constanta, Romania, on the official
press conference at the airfield as well as after the airshow, a little bit away from the airshow stress, to get some impression from that. Of course, the skills and the professionalism are some of the main reasons for the
popularity of the Italians. In the first place, however, there are the people who are responsible for the FRECCE TRICOLORI phenomenon. The friendliness and open-mindedness of the whole team is genuine. Airs and
graces? Arrogance? No way! A country cannot be represented in any better way. We are even now very much looking forward to the next meeting with the Frecce and we can hardly
wait to hear the words again: Ladies and Gentleman, may we present you: the Italian Air Force aerobatic team - the legendary Frecce Tricolori!
Robert Kysela / managing editor
Release 4.0/2008
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