Celebrated the 30 years of the AMX and the 80 anniversary of the 51 ° Stormo

(To air Force)
14/09/19

Yesterday, Friday 13 September, at the Istrana military airport, in the presence of the Air Force Chief of Staff, Air Team General Alberto Rosso, the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the entry into line of the AMX aircraft and the contextual 80th anniversary of the establishment of the 51st Wing.

The anniversary that covered the 80th anniversary of the Stormo's life was formally sealed by holding a solemn flag-raising during which the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, in the presence of the numerous local authorities, highlighted the strong link between the Stormo and the land that hosts it. General Rosso underlined in his speech how "the history and traditions of the 51st Wing, so glorious, are a fundamental heritage for our Armed Force". There was also a reference to the other protagonist of the day, the AMX, the aircraft that "in these 30 years has contributed to building very important pages of aeronautical life, allowing Italy to perform well abroad in all maintenance operations peace, in Afghanistan, as in Iraq, and it is the machine that has flown operationally more hours than the other air-tactical lines of the Air Force. We will continue to make use of the 51st Wing - concluded the Chief of Staff of the Air Force - and the professionalism of its staff, to contribute to the defense and security of the country with more modern machines ".

At the end of the solemn flag-raising ceremony, the overflight of the AMX of the 132nd Flight Group took place, which for the occasion flew together with the aircraft of the National Aerobatic Team, which embellished the anniversary with a training flight on the Treviso base. Particularly appreciated by the approximately three thousand gatherers and citizens who, subject to accreditation, wanted to take part in the event, was the presentation of the video on the 30 years of life of the AMX, a contribution with which three decades of operational history of this aircraft is characterized by a vast use, in real operations and exercises in every corner of the world. The many visitors who attended were able to know in this context that the AMX boasts a historic record: with more than 18.000 hours flown in real operations, this aircraft holds a very respectable record, namely that of being the most widely used aerotactic aircraft of the Italian Air Force. in missions beyond national borders, for over two thirds of its operational life.

All the attendees then had the opportunity to learn more about the life of the Flight Groups that had the AMX equipped by accessing the relative historical-photographic exhibition, as well as being able to admire many other aircraft supplied to the Italian Air Force up close. , present on static display inside the airport. Particularly appreciated by the many enthusiasts were the version AMX Special Color showing the colors and symbols of the flight groups that have used this airplane over the last three decades.

The celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the 51st Wing and the 30th anniversary of the AMX have had particular resonance especially for the local population for decades linked to the 51st Wing by a particular combination of friendship and affection. To underline this particular relationship that the Stormo boasts with the territory in which it insists, part of the events took place specifically in the heart of the historic center of Treviso, among the citizens who have always been an integral part of the life of the department. It is precisely for this reason that on Thursday 12 September, in close collaboration with local authorities, in the presence of the military and civil authorities, in the prestigious setting of the Salone dei Trecento, the presentation of the book "30 years of AMX" was held, created by Air Force General Staff 5 Department - Edizioni Aeronautica Magazine, followed in the late afternoon by a concert by the Fanfare of the 1 Air Region of the Italian Air Force open to all citizens in Piazza dei Signori still in the historic center of Treviso.