The Aeronautica
Militare Italiana (Italian Air Force) has a long and distinguished history in
the field of aerobatic teams, which can be traced right back to 1928 at
Campoformido Airfield, when Lt. Col. Rino Corso Fougier created the school of
formation aerobatics. He believed that aerobatics and formation flying were
necessary skills for a good fighter pilot, and demonstrating formation
aerobatics would be good propoganda for the Air Arm.
This tradition continued after the Second
World War, with individual units or squadrons (Aerobrigata or Stormo)
forming aerobatic teams. In 1957, it was decided to formalise this arrangement:
One unit would be chosen each year to form an official national team to
represent the A.M.I., with another unit being selected to form the "reserve"
team, which would then become the official team for the following year.
This led, in 1961, to the founding of a
permanent National Aerobatic Team, based at Rivolto. This unit was officially
designated as 313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico, now famous the world
over as the Frecce Tricolori.
Our model display represents the
whole history of Italian aerobatic teams, from 1928 up to the present
day.
We salute them all !
The display was staged on an area of
approximately 15 feet x 4 feet (4.6m x 1.2m) of table space. There are a total
of 138 models on display, three in 1/48th scale, the rest all in 1/72nd scale.
They were built by 10 of our members.
