The massive air show has ended Royal International Air Tattoo 2023, Fairford (UK), 14-16 July. The Air Force participated in this year's edition with a very extensive and significant presence of assets and personnel, thus also involving the international public in the celebrations for the hundredth anniversary of its establishment as an autonomous armed force, on 28 March 1923 .
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. sa Luca Goretti, who wanted to meet in Fairford all the blue staff involved in the success of the event, said: "The important participation of the Air Force in the Royal International Air Tattoo 2023 was an opportunity to celebrate its first 100 years of history also in the particular context of one of the most prestigious air shows in the world, as well as a further sign of the fruitful collaboration and proximity between Italy and the United Kingdom: two large countries, among the few in the world, equipped with more than XNUMX-year-old air forces and among the most advanced on the international scene. I want to thank the women and men of the Air Force for what they have demonstrated in this international showcase, for their preparation and technical and operational competence, which have earned me so many expressions of appreciation and attention in recent days from colleagues in the other air forces, and which are natural consequences of the commitment, passion and professionalism lavished every day and in silence both in Italy and outside the national borders.”
The thematic area called ITAF100, set up by the RIAT organization, was visited by a large and varied public, not at all discouraged by the episodes of bad weather, even intense, which punctuated the three days of the event.
Several key Air Force assets on static display, including: KC-767A tanker, G-550 CAEW command and control surveillance system, P-72 maritime reconnaissance aircraft, C-130J strategic transport aircraft, the HH-101 helicopter, used for special operations, combat aircraft Tornado, AMX ed Euro Fighter, not to mention the two special colors U-208 and C-27J. ITAF100 also hosted some aircraft that have been part of the history of the Italian Air Force, made available by private individuals. Among these the De Havilland Vampire FB.52 and the FIAT G.46.
The reception of the public was also enthusiastic for the in-flight performances, starting with that of the 15th wing, which performed, for the first time outside the national borders, the demo of a search and rescue mission (SAR - Search And Rescue ) with an HH-139 helicopter, even in spite of the bad weather which led to the cancellation of numerous performances on the first day of the show. Instead it was a return that of experimental flight department, with Eurofighter displays Typhoon and T-346A. Just the team experimental flight department last year he was awarded by the organization of RIAT with “The Sir Douglas Bader Trophy” for the best solo performance of the C-27J.
Still on the subject of awards, this year too the Air Force stood out for particular mentions, winning two awards. The first, the one for the Concours d'élégance, which wants to reward the aircraft with the most beautiful livery, best presented and with the most distinctive character, was awarded by a team of international judges to the U-208 "Special Color" of the 60th wing of Guidonia, with its own dedicated livery to the centenary of the Armed Forces. An award that colleagues wanted to dedicate to two recently deceased flight victims: col. Giuseppe Cipriano and the t.col. Marco Meneghello, both from the 60th wing.
The second, personally collected by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, is the award called "Spirit of the Meet", given to the participating nation that best embodied and represented the spirit and values of the RIAT
The warm welcome given by the organization of Royal International Air Tattoo and from the British colleagues to the Air Force rests on the foundations of a mutual respect and a close and long-standing collaboration between the two Air Forces. Collaboration recently strengthened with the signing, last May, of an agreement which provides for the advanced training (Phase IV) of student pilots and instructor pilots at the International Flight Training School (IFTS) of Decimomannu (CA). The IFTS is internationally recognized as a center of excellence and a point of reference in the advanced training of pilots destined for 4th and 5th generation fighters and makes use of the experience and tradition of the Air Force and of the Italian technological capabilities, expressed in the articulated integrated training system based on the T-346A platform.
