The Italian Air Force National Aerobatic Team, 'Frecce Tricolori', making their customary formation departure from RAF Fairford, UK on 22nd July 2019, after performing at The Royal International Air Tattoo 2019.
The Frecce Tricolori ("Tricolour Arrows"), officially known as the 313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico, Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale (PAN) Frecce Tricolori ("313th Acrobatic Training Group, National Aerobatic Team (PAN) Frecce Tricolori"), is the aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force. Based at Rivolto Air Base, province of Udine, it was created on 1 March 1961 as a permanent group for the training of Air Force pilots in air acrobatics.
The Tricolour Arrows replaced unofficial teams that had been sponsored by various commands starting in the early 1930s. The team currently flies the Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN, a two-seat fighter-trainer aircraft capable of 898 km/h at sea level. With ten aircraft, nine in close formation and a soloist, they are the world's largest military aerobatics display team. Their flight schedule, comprises about twenty manoeuvres and lasts about half an hour and has made them one of the most famous teams in the world. They are one of the national symbols of Italy.
They are the world's largest military aerobatic team and boast a display of ten MB339 PAN (now designated AT-339A) jet trainers. The team began in 1961 on the Canadair Sabre, and transitioned to the Fiat G91 three years later. It was with the G91 that the Frecce first attended the Royal International Air Tattoo, then staged at Greenham Common, in 1976. Conversion to the agile MB339 took place prior to the 1982 season.
The Frecce are renowned for the spectacle of their displays, during which the soloist in particular shows something of the MB339's exceptional manoeuvrability.
It has been announced that the team will convert onto another new aircraft, the M-345 HET (High Efficiency Trainer).
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