On Monday 3 February 2025, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, accompanied by the commanders of the Armed Forces' top bodies, paid a visit to the Galatina military airport, home to the 61st Wing and the 10th Aircraft Maintenance Department (RMV).
As part of the preparatory activities for the introduction of the new T-345A "trainer", the Lecce Galatina air base was also the scene of a flight activity carried out in the presence of the Chief of Staff and the Armed Forces leadership aimed at experiencing first-hand the evolution of the introductory process and the results achieved so far.
Accompanied by the commander of the 61st wing, and the director of the 10th RMV, and the respective presidents of the non-commissioned officers, graduates and soldiers, General Goretti met all the military and civilian personnel of the Salento Base, deployed for the occasion inside the hangar of the aircraft efficiency group of the 61st wing: during his speech, he underlined the strategic importance of the flight school and the Lecce airport in the national and international training system, highlighting how the introduction of the new aircraft represents a further phase of growth with the aim of further improving the operational capabilities of future Italian military pilots and those of partner countries. The Chief of Staff concluded the speech with a thank you to all the personnel, and an encouragement to continue in the same direction in terms of commitment, dedication and professionalism.
Preparatory activities aimed at the introduction into the Air Force and the definitive launch of the training system based on the new T-345A aircraft by the Armed Forces continue.
The T-345A single-engine two-seater trainer aircraft, which will initially be used by the 214th flight group of the 61st wing of Lecce Galatina for phase 2 of the training process, has been designed to ensure a significant improvement in training quality, combining cutting-edge technologies and a notable reduction in operating costs.
Thanks to its close relationship with its twin-engined older brother, the T-346, already in use for advanced training at the Campus International Flight Training School of Decimomannu, the transition between the various training phases will be more fluid and efficient.
This integrated approach will not only strengthen Italy's technological leadership, but will also consolidate the role of the 61st Lecce Galatina Air Base as a world-class centre of excellence in the field of military flight training. With the entry into service of the new single-engine trainer, the Italian flight school, already recognized as a showcase for the twin-engine T-346, will seal its leading role in the international panorama, confirming itself as an advanced platform that integrates nationally produced technologies with the experience of the Italian Air Force.
