Frecce Tricolori 65th Anniversary Airshow - Rivolto, Italy
65 Years: a historic milestone!
Sixty-five years, an incredible milestone when you think about it, and it is in honor of this anniversary that our National Aerobatic Team proudly treated us to a remarkable air show, featuring guests from several nations. So many aircraft, so many breathtaking displays, but at the end of the day, it was these ten aircraft that truly took our breath away: ten aircraft that together form the largest Italian flag in the world. The MB-339s, which with a few modifications have evolved from “simple” trainers into true gems, continue to thrill young and old every year, all over the world. Today, we are here to talk about their history and to celebrate their 65th anniversary!
The Airshow's Structure: Flying and Static Display
As the air show opened, we had the opportunity to see up close how the 15th Wing of the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force), based out of Cervia Air Base, operates its Agusta Westland HH-139 helicopters during SAR operations. After the demonstration, the squadron concluded with their famous “Mammajut” salute and bowed to the audience, giving way to a flyby of the Caproni Ca.3, escorted by its wingman, the SPAD XIII R.
After their flyby, it was the turn of a very special team: two of the three pilots have disabilities that prevent them from using their legs, but that did not stop them. Thanks to their self built RV-7s, adapted to their needs, they were able to perform a very impressive display. They are part of the “WeFly!” team. In the distance, however, you could already hear turbojet engines starting up, because right behind the “WeFly!” team were the Midnight Hawks, a branch of the Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force), consisting in an aerobatic team flying four BAE Hawk Mk.51As. The 65th anniversary of the Frecce Tricolori was their only air show outside Finland in 2025.
Next on the schedule needs no introduction: coming directly from Spain was the Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (Spanish Air Force) F/A-18 demo team. This very powerful aircraft opened its display with a spectacular vertical climb immediately after takeoff. To help us appreciate its special livery, however, the pilot also demonstrated how, thanks to a high angle of attack and the power of its General Electric F404-GE-402 engines, the aircraft is capable of performing very slow, high AOA passes.
Right after this display of power, it was the turn of the “Krila Oluje” (Wings of Storm), the aerobatic team from the Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo (Croatian Air Force), who, with their six Pilatus PC-9s, amazed the entire audience in Rivolto. They demonstrated that you do not need a jet engine to perform a display that will remain etched in your memory, especially with their synchronized stall, a never before seen maneuver in which three aircraft perform a vertical climb followed by a controlled stall, all in formation. From Latvia came the Baltic Bees, a civilian aerobatic team composed of four Aero Vodochody L-39s, who immediately caught everyone’s attention with their opening maneuvers.
Who better to close out the first part of the day than a former glory of the Frecce Tricolori, the FIAT G-91. The aircraft on display, registered as I-AMIC, is the only airworthy Fiat G-91R in Italy and one of the very few examples in flying condition worldwide. This remarkable jet had not flown for over thirty years before an extraordinary restoration project brought it back to life. The initiative, which began in earnest in 2021 and concluded just days before the June 2023 centenary airshow of the Italian Air Force, was conceived as part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana and aimed to return this iconic aircraft to the skies.
The project was led by Volafenice under the direction of Renzo Catellani, in formal collaboration with the Italian Air Force and ENAC, with support from specialized firms and historic industry partners. Because the airframe had been preserved for years as a gate guardian and was not originally airworthy, the team had to perform extensive work: sourcing or remanufacturing components, rebuilding structural elements such as wings and control surfaces, and integrating a compatible Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 803K13 turbojet engine that itself required adaptation and modification before installation.
The restoration also included modern updates, such as new avionics, communications systems, and safety equipment, while maintaining the aircraft’s historical integrity. Even the paint scheme was reconstructed using reverse engineering techniques and careful research to reproduce the livery of the Frecce Tricolori as accurately as possible, guided by experts and archive materials.
The result of this multi-year effort was a fully certified, airworthy G-91 that not only flew at the centenary celebration in Pratica di Mare but has since become a highlight at airshows and aviation events, celebrating Italy’s rich aeronautical heritage and thrilling enthusiasts around the world.
After a short break, the first display team of the afternoon was the Yak Italia group, composed of Yak-50 and Yak-52 aircraft, Soviet trainers now used for aerobatic performances.
Among the many participating teams were The Flying Bulls, who arrived in Rivolto with the North American T-28B, the BO-105C, and the AH-1F Cobra. The AH-1F Cobra was the first of the three to perform, demonstrating the agility of a former military attack helicopter. The display was then followed by the T-28, an aircraft that at first glance might seem heavy and unsuitable for aerobatics, but which instead proved that appearances can often be deceiving and that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. After the T-28 landed, a helicopter we had already encountered earlier in the day, the HH-139, took to the air again, making a low pass over the runway while a rescue operator was lowered by the winch, holding a large tricolor flag.
We then met again (as you will read in the article dedicated to Anatolian Eagle 2025, which is coming soon) with the “Türk Yıldızları” (Turkish Stars), an aerobatic team composed of ten Canadair NF-5A aircraft, from the Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (Turkish Air Force), who delighted us with their spectacular performance aboard this iconic jet.
Of the three participants from The Flying Bulls, the only one still missing was the BO-105. Despite being a helicopter, it did nothing but amaze us, performing remarkable maneuvers thanks to its rigid rotor system, something you would never see on a conventional helicopter. There was barely enough time to watch its final pass before a sudden roar broke the momentary silence at the end of the runway. It was the turn of an aircraft that needs no introduction and, above all, no comment, except to imagine more than 100,000 visitors with their eyes fixed on the sky, watching it tear through the air with apparent ease. It was the Eurofighter Typhoon of the Reparto Sperimentale di Volo (RSV), the Experimental Flight Department based at Pratica di Mare AFB, south-west of Rome.
During the air show, the Turkish Stars were not the only team flying the F-5. In fact, it was also the turn of the Patrouille Suisse, the Swiss Air Force‘s aerobatic team, possibly one of the last opportunities to see this patrol, as it is unfortunately scheduled to be disbanded in the coming years.
The second performer from the RSV was the Alenia C-27J, which, despite being a transport aircraft, showed us that it has the heart of a fighter jet, demonstrating the maneuverability and technical capabilities of this proudly all-Italian aircraft. This was followed by the Alenia Aermacchi T-346 Master, a jewel designed to train future air force pilots, replacing the now-aging MB-339. Thanks to its incredible performance, the T-346 will also represent the future of the Frecce Tricolori, as we can already see from the aircraft displayed on static show in its new PAN (Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale) livery, designed by the Italian design company “Pininfarina“.
The penultimate aerobatic team performing at Rivolto was the “Patrouille de France” from the Armée de l’Air (French Air Force), flying their Dornier Alpha Jets. They performed maneuvers we do not often see, such as one aircraft flying inverted while following another in normal flight, flanked by two aircraft in knife-edge turns, one in reverse, and finally two aircraft performing a Siberian Circle around them. This is the true beauty of aerobatic teams.
From the Italian Air Force‘s 32nd Wing, based in Amendola AFB (North-east of Foggia), two Lockheed Martin F-35s, an A and a B variant, visited us, letting us hear their unmistakable sound with several fly-bys and performing a VTOL landing demonstration in front of the audience. Before the highly anticipated final display of the day, an EFA also demonstrated how the air force constantly monitors our skies, simulating an interception scenario.
We are now in the final moments of the airshow, and it is finally their turn. The roar of the MB-339 echoes through the air, and we cannot deny that seeing the aircraft pass just a few steps in front of us was an incredible thrill. Lined up at the end of the runway, after the classic smoke test, the Frecce Tricolori took off in formation.
Officially established in 1961 at Rivolto, the Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale was created to unify the various aerobatic teams that had represented Italy in previous years. Over time, the team has flown several iconic aircraft, including the F-86 Sabre, the G-91, and since 1982, the Aermacchi MB-339, which has become inseparable from the image of the Frecce Tricolori. A unique spectacle then unfolded, keeping everyone (young and old) with their eyes fixed on the sky for twenty minutes, without a single dull, empty moment.
The final, and perhaps most famous, maneuver was the “Alona Tricolore,” performed to the tune of “Nessun Dorma”, sung by the legendary Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
Looking to the future, the Frecce Tricolori are preparing to transition to the Alenia T-346, ensuring that Italy’s aerobatic tradition will continue with a new-generation aircraft while preserving the same passion and precision that have defined the team for over six decades.
Gallery
I believe a special thanks to the Italian Air Force is more than deserved. These have been three wonderful days, full of emotion and, above all, incredibly intense. Enjoy below an 80+ photo gallery dedicated to such an important milestone for the Italian Air Force, the Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale, and for every Italian aviation enthusiast.
Grazie mille for taking the time to read our article, and see you in the next one!
Article by Matteo Carenini, Christian Bossi – Pictures by Matteo Carenini