Also this year the Air Force participated in the "Royal International Air Tattoo 2024" (RIAT) air event, organized from 19 to 21 July at the Royal Air Force Base in Fairford in England. The Blue Army was represented by pilots, engineers, specialists and aircraft of the experimental flight department (RSV) of the aeronautical and space testing air division (DASAS) of Pratica di Mare.
The operational theme of this year's event was focused on "Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space" thus implying the activity of Test & Evaluation in the world of modern aviation. An extremely fitting topic for the RSV, whose institutional task is to support the operational departments of the Air Force through the testing, integration and validation of new weapon systems and the modifications to be applied to those already operating in the Armed Forces.
During the days of the event, three different RSV assets took off for the technical demonstrations in flight: the T-346A advanced trainer Master, the Eurofighter high-performance fighter Typhoon, and the C-27J transport aircraft Spartan, highlighted the national technological excellence and the technical and professional preparation of the Armed Forces personnel.
The crew of the C-27J aircraft performed uncommon maneuvers for this type of aircraft, enhancing the flight qualities of the aircraft, astonishing the public with a technical demonstration and winning, once again, the Sir Douglas Bader Trophy for the Best Individual Flying Demonstration, an award already won in 2022 and 2011. In 1997 and 1989, the same award was also won by experimental flight department with the G-222 aircraft.
The 6th wing of Ghedi (BS) was also present with a Tornado Special Color on static display which performed a formation flyby with other aircraft to celebrate 75 years of NATO.
There was great enthusiasm and appreciation from the international public present at the event across the Channel for the Armed Forces and the always warm welcome given by the RIAT organization and by the English colleagues of the Royal Air Force to the Air Force, a collaboration lasting and mutual respect between the two Air Forces.
The aeronautical and space experimentation division brings together, under a single command, all the study and experimentation bodies of the Air Force.
The division represents the main consultancy body of the Armed Forces and the Defense Administration for the flight tests of aircraft and weapon systems, the chemical-physical analysis and evaluation of structural and consumable materials, training and experimentation in the aerospace medicine sector, management of operational software and operational verification of weapon systems.
Among the departments dependent on DASAS, the experimental flight department has the task of supporting the operational departments of the Air Force through the testing, development, integration and validation of new weapon systems or those undergoing modification. In response, then, to the changing geopolitical, social and economic context, the RSV has given a significant boost to the activities in support of the operational departments, essentially through the instrument of operational technical certification which allows the rapid and autonomous implementation of technological solutions capable to meet new needs in hostile theaters.
