At the "Fabbri" airport, the 50th anniversary of the delivery of the first CH-47 helicopter to the Italian Army was commemorated, which took place on February 16, 1973, and the 47th anniversary of the establishment of the 1st AVES "Antares" Regiment.
The commander of the Army Aviation, general of division Andrea Di Stasio, attending the ceremony, underlined the importance of the anniversary since such moments of meeting allow the history of the Army Aviation to be fixed in memory.
The participation of the representatives of the Municipality of Viterbo, and of delegations from the surrounding Municipalities underlined the importance of the operational support guaranteed by the crews of the CH-47 in various emergency situations and public utility activities.
The event was also attended by representatives of Leonardo and Boeing Italy, testifying to the synergistic cooperation between industry and Italian defence. “We celebrate with great pride this significant anniversary, which crowns 50 years of Chinook history in Italy”, said Angela Natale, President of Boeing Italy and Managing Director (MD) for Southern Europe. “The Chinook is emblematic of Boeing's long history of collaboration with the Italian Army and national industry and will continue to fly successfully for decades to come”. Gian Piero Cutillo, MD Leonardo Helicopters said: “We share our pride in this important milestone with the Army; we will continue to support the operation and effectiveness of the current fleet with our capabilities”.
