Pratica Di Mare Airshow
May 2007
Over the weekend of 26th/27th May 2007 the Italian Air Force held the "Giornata Azzurra" at Pratica Di Mare Air Base just south of Rome for the second consecutive year. Having been held in the month of September 2006, the 2007 airshow was brought forward to May, and thankfully the weather truned out to be much better than that experienced during the 2006 event.
Jetwash Aviation Photo's made the relatively short 'hop' over to Rome to get a first taste of the airshow scene Italian style. We were not disappointed, as the Italian Armed Forces put on a marvelous event that included participation from each of the Italian military forces, including the likes of the Guardia Di Finanza, Guardia Costiera, Polizia etc. Pratica Di Mare Air Base is home to the Italian Air Force's Reparto Sperimentale Volo (RSV) or Experimental Flight Centre, and plenty of their aircraft were included within the airshow along with the other resident Pratica units of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI).
"Pope Mobile"
Two SH-3D Sea Kings are used by 31 Stormo at Rome-Ciampino, there duties include regular transportation of the Pope
The Agusta AW.139 above was a newly delivered example for the Protezione Civile
The Hughes NH.500E above belongs to 72 Stormo at Frosinone in the training role
The NH.500MD above is a Pratica resident with 615 Squadriglia Collagimenti
Note the differing nose configuration to the NH.500E in the previous photo, which makes for easy identification of the type
The Agusta-Bell AB.212AM above wears 51 Stormo markings, however it is probably in use with 81 CAE/15 Stormo at Pratica
The Slovenian Air Force AS.532AL Cougar in the static display is the third of four on order for 15 Brigada at Ljubljana/Brnik
The AMI's new frontline fighter aircraft which is currently entering service is the Eurofighter Typhoon
The one above in service with 4 Stormo at Grossetto, a former F-104 Starfighter unit
Used as a glider tug at Rome-Guidonia by 423 Squadriglia/CVV is the Siai S.208
MM61935 sporting 120,000 Hours markings, hardly surprising with 40 years of service under its belt
14 Stormo/71 Gruppo at Pratica operates six Piaggio P.166DL3 aircraft
Another variant of the P.166DL is this Coast Guard operated version with the forward radar, used in the Search & Rescue Role (SAR)
Similarly the Guardia Di Finanza use the same Piaggio P.166 variant as the Coast Guard, be it in a somewhat more drab colour scheme
Sticking with the less traditional 'pusher' engines is the much newer Piaggio P.180 Avanti.
It is operated by the Air Force, Navy (above), Army, Police, Carabinieri, Guardia Di Finanza and the Vigili Del Fuoco
MM62247/PS-B15 is the sole Polizia Avanti in service at this time
Completing the P.180 line-up in the static is the Guardia Di Finanza variant
Newly delivered and currently replacing the vintage SF.260AM at Latina Air Base is the SF.260EA variant as seen above
The aircraft is used as a primary trainer with the AMI
The Italians seem to have an abundance of home-grown aircraft in their fleets, many of which are of unusual design.
This applies no more so than to the Partenavia P.680 Observer aircraft in use with the Polizia Di Stato
The AMI utilises both the IDS and ECR variant of the PANAVIA Tornado
The ECR variant above is distinguished most easily by the lack of the 27mm Mauser cannon in the forward nose section
A rather drab but nonetheless unique Tornado IDS from 155 Gruppo ETS/50 Stormo at Piacenza
The Guardia Di Finanza seem to relish in painting their aircraft in drab colour schemes
This ATR-42AMP is based at Pratica Di Mare with 2 Gruppo
AMI transportation for VIP's is provided by 31 Stormo at nearby Ciampino Airport
Amongst the fleet are five Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft
Amongst the AMI glider fleet is this Grob 103 Twin Astir.
Based at Guidonia with the CVV it is unusual for it to be seen away from its home base
Amongst the GdiF display was this float equipped Hughes NH.500MC
Alongside the NH.500 was an Agusta A.109A-II in the standard yellow/green colour scheme
Resplendent in its blue/white colour scheme is this Agusta A.109A of the Polizia di Stato
Fresh off the production line is the Italian Army's newest recruit, the NH.90TTH which is entering service at Viterbo
Another Italian Army helo' in the static was Agusta A.129CBT attack helicopter
Resplendent in a mock World War II camouflage pattern is this single seat AMX from 32 Stormo
The AMX seen above on the flightline from 51 Stormo wears the standard AMI overall grey colour scheme
and provides a stark comparison to the previous AMX photo
Another Tornado IDS seen at Pratica is this RSV based aircraft
AMI "Mud Moving" is provided by the tri-nation PANAVIA Tornado IDS seen above
This particular aircaft sports the markings of 6 Stormo at Ghedi Air Base
In the runiing for the replacement Italian Air Force trainer competition is the Alenia/Aermacchi M346
Prototype 001 wears a distinctive blue colour scheme
The Italian Navy provided a number of McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier aircraft for the flying display
The Marina Militare Italiana (MMI) AV-8's are based with Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati at Grottaglie
The pilot of MM7215 shares a joke with his plane captain prior to taking part in the flying display
Ready to rock & roll, MM7215 pushes out from its parking slot to head towards the runway threshold
Closely followed by MM7219, which provides an excellent side-on view of the AV-8B Harrier