A year ago I titled an article about an important air show "100 these days".
It was an article of "personal initiative", not a preorganized editorial effort, just as it is.
That title was a wish to be able to review a beautiful air show having our Air Force as a protagonist and last weekend in Bellaria-Igea Marina the show has been revived, with a program in some respects almost exceptional.
They were in fact present very prestigious foreign acrobatic patrols, including the Patrouille de France in splendid shape, in spite of its 60 years just completed.
Among the civilian formations, a similar presence of jet aircraft is remarkable and unusual.
The "Baltic Bees" on their first Italian trip and the Breitling Jet Team, gave very precise formations maintained with surgical precision, confirming that a good setting of military flight never gets old, even when gray hair arrives.
The acrobatics of Team Yak 52, as well as those of the ultralight of the nearby airfield of Santarcangelo di Romagna, are very beautiful in the opposite field of speed destined for much slower propeller aircraft.
Certainly the roar given by the Experimental Flight Department with the presentation of the T346, EF2000 makes quite another impression, while his C27-J has made a demonstration less acrobatic than usual, but equally technical.
Everything is exceptional, therefore, but one thing more than all, even if less flashy and noisy of the aerial evolutions: the speaker's comment.
Their task is to transform a magnificent day at the beach, looking at exceptional pilots and planes, in a (rare) moment of aeronautical culture and of explaining the activities of the air force component of the Armed Forces to the benefit of the national community.
Of exceptional value in this context, for the quality and spontaneity of the work done by the speaker of the 15 ° Stormo, as well as that of his colleague of the Experimental Flight Department. Foreign guests have also honored us with the effort to do so in our language and we must recognize the further effort.
The breaks between one presentation and another, usually boring, but here in Bellaria-Igea Marina have been wisely filled with "guest" steps (such as the ATR-42 MP of the Coast Guard) and with simulations of tactical events of aircraft of the Italian Air Force.
Among these, particularly worthy of note is the simulation of an in-flight refueling of the new HH101 "Caesar" (Combat-SAR) helicopter by a KC-130, as well as the escort of the Gulfstream CAEW radar aircraft and the interception of an aircraft Piaggio P.180. In particular, this simulation has given other reasons for appreciation of the exuberant production of decibels by Eurofighter ... even remaining far from the "sonic bang"!
Two things could not miss looking at the EF2000 of the Experimental Flight Department and the HH139 and HH101 of the 15 ° Stormo:
The first thing was the public commemoration of Cap. Gabriele Orlandi, from Romagna and fell during a similar presentation of a Eurofighter.
The second, which remained at the level of some private memory between classmates and departmental, the memory of Magg. Michele Vimercati, pilot in force at the 15 ° Stormo di Rimini on HH-3F and died in a dramatic accident flight when he was already on leave.
An unforgettable day, therefore, for aviation enthusiasts "of the real one"!
For those who live far away, there was also the opportunity to follow the event on TV on the first national network: an organizational effort not a little.
Being guests of the Adriatic coast has allowed us to benefit from a much better sun position and a perfect observation position.
In Romagna, then the reception is an art, so those of the public spent the whole weekend in the area, could also attend a free concert with an infinity of "big names" of Italian music, a Ferrari meeting on the seafront and many beautiful shops furnished in the tricolor theme.
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(photo of the author)
