"Valore Tricolore": celebration of the Armed Forces on the waterfront of Ravenna

(To Luigi Sani)
12/07/18

"Valore Tricolore 2018", the air show in Ravenna, the 23 and 24 June took place on the seafront of Punta Marina and is certainly considered the central episode among the various celebrations dedicated to the centenary of the death of the Lecce ace Francesco Baracca and of the victorious end of the First World War.

Tricolor value in its third edition it has finally unveiled its innovative "format", differentiating itself from all the other air shows foreseen in the official calendar of the National Acrobatic Patrol; with the participation of all the Defense Weapons, it promotes to the general public the whole system of the Italian Armed Forces.

The subtitle that appears in the official poster of the event: "Manifestation of the Armed Forces", clarifies exactly the project organized by the organizers: The Aero Club Francesco Baracca di Lugo in partnership with the Municipality of Ravenna and the Promoter of the Silvio Bartolotti initiative, AD of Micoperi (the Costa Rican recovery company at Giglio), under the patronage of the Emilia Romagna Region.

Unique in its kind, the Tricolor Value program does not propose the typical acrobatic displays of civil or military aircraft, but a "showcase" of aircraft activities carried out by all the different specialties of the Defense and the State. In this edition, real "dynamic demonstrations" have fascinated the more than 150.000 spectators crowded in a wide stretch of coast, under the wise direction of Oreste Martini and the gen. d. Carlo Landi.

This is a well-balanced project, designed to improve the understanding of the service carried out by the Armed forces, in the specific skills of the various weapons up to the police force. The choice of displays with dynamic demonstrations allows everyone to appreciate the preparation and skills of women and men in uniform and their means at the state of the art; see with his own eyes the technique of recovery of a castaway at sea or of the missing in the mountains, the interception of an inflatable boat with "smugglers" or smugglers by means cooperating on water and in flight; perceiving the flapping of an approaching helicopter, which often means "salvation" for those in danger of life; appreciate the activity of contrast to the underworld thanks to the intervention of police and carabinieri aircraft.

The Navy was present for three days with the modern multirole frigate (FREMM) Federico Martinengo, who stopped at the Marina di Ravenna port and was visited by a public record.

All the armed forces and police forces participated with their own stands, in an exhibition village that was visited by over 100.000 people during the two days of the event and where it was possible to touch some of the new means supplied, flight simulators and equipment as well as receiving information regarding recruitment offers.

The opening of the event took place in an unusual way, with the demonstration of a "rescue drone": a professional APR of the latest generation of the Eagle Sky Light, which after some acrobatic maneuvers made the launch into the sea of ​​two self-inflating jackets for the rescue of a hypothetical subject in danger.

Immediately following, the passage of the tricolor flag carried by an Agusta-Westland HH-139 helicopter of the 83 ° C / SAR Group of Pisignano. This time, in front of the tribune of the authorities, the Inno di Mameli was performed with the language of gestures, by a group of children and deaf and dumb adults.

The Air Force has thus started the series of dynamic demonstrations with the dive into the sea of ​​a rescue operator.

The State Police was represented by the helicopter "Poli 100" AB-212 of the 3 ° flight department of Bologna Borgo Panigale. For the Carabinieri he flew a powerful AB-412.

The dynamic demonstration of the Guardia di Finanza involved three units at sea, including the "Captain Cultrona" patrol boat and a brand new AW-139 helicopter.

The Army carried out an original action on the sea, with the combined use of an AH-129D and a UH-90, belonging to the 7 ° rgt. AvEs "Vega" of Rimini, demonstrating the agility skills of these helicopters, up to the sequence of discovery with subsequent recovery of a missing.

I parries of the thunderbolt they filled the sky by drawing trajectories with the tricolor fumes and the gigantic Italian flag, delivered exactly in front of the authorities' platform.

The final with the performance of the Frecce Tricolori it was dynamic and of very high precision, controlled from the ground by the commander Mirco Caffelli.

Thus, an Armed Forces party was held dedicated to the general public and to the many families on holiday. A full success for the initiative, where great attention was noted, in the value of "good information", with the care, training and preparation of the fundamental role of PI

They were present in fact a Tricolor value three excellent speakers, committed to highlight the demonstrations of vehicles and men with clear words, competent and passionate: Daniele Ruffilli for the Air Force - 15 ° Stormo of Cervia, Pamela Elena Saturday for the Army Aviation (Pilot of AH-129 Mangusta) and Liberata D'Aniello, official speaker of the Frecce Tricolori; three voices now known to the general public that combine masterfully with performances in the sky and at sea.

This is "Valore Tricolore", an undoubtedly well-conceived format, which in the next editions will be able to surprise and better tell the life and commitment of our Armed Forces to serve the country.