Brave, reckless and sometimes crazy: i fighter pilots they are among the most popular figures for young and old. On board their airplanes, they are capable of spectacular and almost absurd maneuvers. To share this show with the public, many countries have set up real ones acrobatic patrols. And Italy can boast one of the most famous bodies in the world: the National Acrobatic Patrol, better known as Frecce Tricolori.
The birth of the Insane Squadron
On 1 March the National Aerobatic Team performs the beauty of 58 years. Over half a century of loops, low-flying flights and other spectacular maneuvers. But what is the history of the Frecce Tricolori? Their birth, in truth, dates back to well before March 1961, XNUMX. Already in the twenties, pilots tried their hand at multiple stunts to test the aircraft and their skills. In July 1929 theItalian Air Force organized an exhibition to honor the two leading American aviators of the first flight between Rome and North America. The event was a success, with thousands of people literally gasping to witness that show. This led the high command to establish the first aerobatic flying school a year later: the Insane Squadron.
The first official show dates back to8 June of the 1930, and featured three formations of five aircraft each: i Fiat CR 20 (yes, once they also made planes). Many stunts were staged, including the bomb (which later became a trademark of the Frecce Tricolori). Until the end of the Thirties, the Insane Squadron enchanted a large part of the country, only to melt - inevitably - due to the war.
From the Prancing Horse to the Frecce Tricolori
After the conflict, the formation returned to enchant the spectators, even if not in an official way. That was until 1950 when the prancing Horse, a patrol made up of four pilots and officially recognized by the Italian state. In parallel, the various departments of the army formed their own acrobatic patrols including the Thundering jets, White Tigers and Red devils.
In 1960 it was decided to group all these starlings in a single department, composed of the best drivers of the various formations. After a little over a year the National Acrobatic Patrol, based inRivolto airport (Udine). Initially the shows saw few pilots in action, but from 1963 the number rose to the current ones 10 planes flying at the same time (making it the largest aerobatic team in the world). The possibility of using gods was also given colored fumes during the performances, for even more spectacular choreographies.
Since then the Frecce Tricolori have begun to enchant in Italy and around the world. The squadron was in fact called to participate, due to the skill of its pilots, in many events of global significance. An elite corps with all members selected through very hard tests, both physical and psychological. And thanks to this, numerous records have been broken over the years.
A record-breaking patrol
To date, the Frecce Tricolori are the most famous acrobatic team in the world. Its pilots are capable of very complex stunts, such as the famous bomb. In this particular maneuver the formation it descends compactly towards the ground to then open up to the last. In that instant the soloist (the pilot out of the formation) dives in the middle, climbing up like a missile the middle section. Unlike the other acrobatic teams, however, that of the Frecce Tricolori is the only one to perform this stunt backwards, with the group swooping down and the soloist going up.
Among the various records they can also boast the longest national flag in the world: a tricolor of 5 km drawn in the sky. Simply something unique in the world!
