This morning, at the "G. Moscardini" military airport of Frosinone, home of the 72nd wing, the ceremony for the delivery of patents to 31 pilots trained at the Air Force flight schools.
The event, held in full compliance with the containment measures provided for by the epidemiological emergency in progress, was chaired by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, air squad general Alberto Rosso, in the presence of the commander of the AM / 3rd Region Schools Air, air squad general Aurelio Colagrande and a reduced representation of civil and military authorities.
The prestigious patents were issued following the completion of the demanding training course carried out by personnel belonging to the Air Force, the Italian Army and the Guardia di Finanza. Specifically, 17 military pilots of the Air Force obtained the patent at the 61st wing of Galatina-Lecce and, at the 72nd wing of Frosinone, 3 military pilots of the AM, 8 pilots of the Army and 3 of the Guardia di Finanza .
The pilots belonging to the Air Force will be assigned to the "fighter", "multi-engine", "remotely piloted" and "rotary wing" lines, while the pilots of the Italian Army and the Guardia di Finanza will be employed on the helicopters of the respective departments of use.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, a plaque of merit was given to the best flight instructor of the 61st and 72nd flocks and a trophy in memory of the pilot second lieutenant Carlo Negri, gold medal for military valor, to the student pilots who achieved the best results in flight.
"The granting of the patent represents one of the most significant milestones in the life of an aviator". This is how the air squad general Aurelio Colagrande, commander of the AM / 3rd Air Region Schools, made his debut during his speech. "Today we achieve this goal here at the 72nd wing of Frosinone, one of the most important flight schools of the Italian Air Force, a highly specialized department, a center of excellence in the field of flying-wing training, where you can breathe a climate of true inter-force integration ".
"You have flown about 5650 hours, aboard fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, in addition to 1800 hours of training on the simulator, for a total of about 6300 sorties - concluded the gen. Colagrande. It was certainly a period of sacrifices, sweat and fatigue but today, thanks to your commitment and your skills, our country is enriched with new pilots, ready to do their duty to the end ".
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, general of the air squad Alberto Rosso, after having addressed an initial greeting to all the civil and military authorities present, addressed the young pilots directly: "The patent obtained today crowns the end of a preparation phase and seals a dream that many of us had since childhood". Speaking specifically of the turreted eagle, symbol of the military pilots of the Air Force, he added: "The patent we carry represents our raison d'etre, our usefulness coincides with our ability to use the air vehicle to pursue the objectives of the Armed Force in the broader context of the country's Defense and Security".
At the end of his speech, gen. Rosso wanted to highlight how: "Uniforms of different colors, pilots of different Armed Forces, are united by a single goal: to serve the country […] You have shared passion and dedication, efforts and sacrifices, a human wealth and friendship that will accompany you throughout your life. I hope to have all the satisfactions you deserve, to reach all the set goals, without ever forgetting that you are servants of the State ".
