65° ANNIVERSARIO
FRECCE TRICOLORI
BASE AEREA RIVOLTO
UDINE
ITALIA
Saturday 06th Sunday 07th September 2025
An immense crowd of enthusiasts, families with children and insiders literally besieged the Rivolto Air Base, home of the 313th Flight Group known all over the world as PAN. An extraordinary event was put on display to celebrate the 65th anniversary of one of the most famous and loved aerobatic teams in the world. HH 139 of the 15th Wing opened the event with a demonstration of rescue on land. An aerorescuer with the winch was engaged for recovery of person after the lighting of a smoke bomb to signal the position of the person to be recovered. Some historic planes that have made the history of flight were present in flight. The two aircraft, the Spad S.XIII and the Caproni Ca-3, represent only a small part of the most important aircraft in the history of aviation.
HH 139 - 15° Stormo Aeronautica Militare
Caproni Ca-3 Private
Spad S.XIII Private
Great emotion was aroused among all those present by the performance of the WeFly aerobatic team! Team with the Vans RV-7, the only patrol in the world piloted by wheelchair pilots. The first to perform in the blue sky of Rivolto was the Finnish Aerobatic Team, the "Midnight Hawks" on a Hawk Mk.66. Coming from the Kauhava Air Base, they are among the youngest aerobatic teams in Europe. Born in 1997, they have been participating in the most important European events for several years now.
WeFly aerobatic Team Vans RV-7
"Midnight Hawks" Hawk Mk.66.
McDonnell Douglas EF-18M Hornet 15th Wing della Spanish Air Force
The only foreign jet present at the event was the McDonnell Douglas EF-18M Hornet of the 15th Wing of the Spanish Air Force, based in Zaragoza. A great performance by the Spanish driver who highlighted his excellent agility and maneuverability. Designed to replace the F-4 Phantom II and A-7 Corsair II, it has been a great success both in the United States and abroad.
Wings of Storm Pilatus PC-9M Croatia - Air Force
Coming from the Operational Base 93rd Air Base, Zemunik, near ZadarIn the 6 × Pilatus PC-9M, (turboprop trainers) known as the Krila Oluje (Wings of Storm) in force of the Croatian Air Force (Croatian Air Force The six Pilatus PC-9Ms with a red, white and blue color scheme, which recall the colors of the national flag, gave the audience a show with narrow formations with separation of less than 2 meters. There are only two jet aerobatic teams in the world. Together Patriots Jet Team (USA) on Aero L-39 Albatros (six aircraft), the Baltic Bees Jet Team (Latvia) also on 4 × Aero L-39 Albatros. Coming from Jūrmala Airport (EVJA), Tukums district, they were founded in 2008 by a private company (K.S. Avia) as a civilian patrol. Their show is characterized by tight formations, opposition passages, synchronized solo routines, and complex vertical maneuvers
Baltic Bees Jet Team (Latvia)
Seeing the G91 PAN in flight, the only flying example in the world, aroused great admiration and nostalgia Carefully restored by a team of technicians, historians and enthusiasts, this jewel of Italian aeronautics has returned to fly after years of silence, the familiar roar of a Fiat G.91 PAN has returned to fill the skies, bringing back to life a fundamental piece of the history of the Frecce Tricolori. It represents a bridge between generations: a way to remember and tell the new generations what Italian aeronautics represented (and still represents).
Fiat G.91 I-AMIC
Yakovlev Yak-52 Yakitalia
Yakovlev Yak-50 Yakitalia
The Yakitalia aerobatic team flew with four planes. Founded on March 5, 1999, it is one of the longest-running civilian aerobatic teams currently operating in Italy. With operational base at the Fano airport "Enzo and Walter Omiccioli" (Marche), they fly Yakovlev Yak-52 (three specimens) and Yak-50 (one). Known and appreciated in Italy and Europe, they have participated in over 200 events.
Yakovlev Yak-52/50 Yakitalia
Alternating the various aerobatic teams present are two aircraft that have made the history of aviation worldwide. The Bell AH-1F Cobra fighter helicopter was the backbone of the U.S. Air Force before the arrival of the Boeing AH-64 Apache and the U.S. Navy trainer the North American T-28B Trojan. Both aircraft belong to The Flying Bulls and are housed in the world-famous Hangar 7 in Salzburg
Bell AH-F1 F Cobra Flying Bulls
North American T-28B Trojan
Coloring the skies with their red and white fumes is the official aerobatic team of the Turkish Air Force iTurkish Stars (Türk Yıldızları). The aircraft used are the Canadair NF5A / B Freedom Fighter (updated versions) Their exhibition includes a formation of 7-8 airplanes, depending on technical and operational availability. Theirs was a spectacle with high-speed maneuvers, very tight formations and a very high level of precision.
Canadair NF5A/B Frerdom Fighter Turkish Stars
After the passage of the HH139 of the 15th Flight Group with the Italian flag and the performance of the National Anthem, the exhibition of the first aircraft of the Experimental Department of the Italian Air Force, the Eurofighter Typhoon EF2000 belonging to the 4th Wing "Amedeo d'Aosta", The military airport of Grosseto is home to the 9th Fighter Interceptor Group and the 20th Operational Training Group (also used for the training of pilots on Eurofighters).
Eurofighter Typhoon EF2000 4º Stormo "Amedeo d'Aosta" Italy - Air Force
Before the exhibition of the second aircraft of the Experimental Department, one of the most well-known, appreciated and present patrols in the European scene was the Patrouille Suisse. Founded in 1964, it operates from the Emmen Air Base, canton of Lucerne. He flies the Northrop F-5E Tiger II, an American-made supersonic light fighter that has been in service in Switzerland since the 1970s. Their show is a set of acrobatic maneuvers performed with pinpoint precision and perfect harmony, a symbol of the excellence and discipline of the Swiss Air Force. The line-up is usually composed of 6 + 1 (usually 6 in formation + 1 reserve or speaker)
Northrop F-5E Tiger II Patrouille Suisse Switzerland - Air Force
The flight performance of the C-27J Spartan represents one of the most spectacular and surprising performances in the panorama of military aviation, precisely because it belies any expectation of what a transport aircraft can do. Winner of the Sir Douglas Bader Trophy, the Italian Air Force C-27J received this award for best solo performance during the 2022 Royal International Air Tattoo. With Tonneau (360° full roll), Looping, Low-speed vaults, Vertical climbs at full power, Tight turns at high inclination, Controlled stalls and quick recoveries and Grazing passages at very low altitude, the Spartan's performance remains one of the most spectacular in the world leaving the audience enthusiastic at the end of each performance.
Alenia C-27J Spartan Italy - Air Force
Alenia Aermacchi M-T346 Master Italy - Air Force
Produced by Leonardo (an Italian company), the T-346A Master (also known internationally as the M-346 Master) is a state-of-the-art advanced trainer jet, designed to prepare military pilots for flying modern fighters such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-35 Lightning II and the Rafale For many years it has been an integral part of the European pilot training program, exported to many countries of the world such as Israel (called Lavi), Poland, Greece, Qatar, Singapore, Nigeria (in light attack configuration) and Egypt is today one of the most advanced of its kind in the world. The T-346's performances are not aerobatic but show its advanced maneuvering capabilities, typical of a high-performance trainer jet. They are designed to show effectiveness, agility and precision.
Last to perform among the Patrols but not least for quality flight ability is the Patrouille de France, one of the most prestigious and long-lived aerobatic teams in the world, known for its elegance, precision and unmistakable style. Founded in 1953, the Patrol has been flying the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet since 1981. In its long life, many aircraft have been used by the France-Air Force. The first official aircraft of the Patrouille de France was the Republic F-84G Thunderjet, from 1954-1956the Dassault Ouragan (First French fighter jet used in the Patrouille. from 1957-1963 the Dassault Mystère IV (More powerful and modern, symbol of the time), from 1964-1980 the Fouga Magister CM-170 (Iconic, double inverted V drift, great maneuverability) and from 1981 to the present Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet.
Dassault-Breguet-Dornier Alpha Jet E "Patrouille de France" France - Air Force
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Italy - Air Force
The F-35B Lightning II is one of the most advanced military aircraft in the world, known for its unique short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. Designed by Lockheed Martin as part of the Joint Strike Fighter program, it represents the version designed for air and naval forces operating from light aircraft carriers and forward bases with short or damaged runways. It is currently in service with the U.S. Marine Corps, the British Royal Navy, and other armed forces including the Italian Air Force and the Italian Navy. The F-35B is often the protagonist of dynamic demonstrations, especially at international airshows such as the Farnborough International Airshow, the RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo) or the Jesolo Air Show in Italy. The F-35B fighter represents an unprecedented evolution in the world of military aviation. His performances are a concentrate of power and innovation, but behind the show lies a sophisticated weapon system, designed to dominate the skies of the twenty-first century. Each of its vertical take-offs or in-flight stationing is not only a technical demonstration, but also a symbol of the future of global military aviation.
Aermacchi MB-339PAN "Frecce Tricolori" Italy - Air Force
With the usual roar that anticipates adrenaline, the Frecce Tricolori closed the event by giving the public a breathtaking show made up of acrobatics, precision and, of course, the tricolor that colors the air. The National Aerobatic Team (PAN), the flagship of the Italian Air Force, left thousands of spectators speechless who flocked from all over to attend one of the most loved and anticipated air events on the national calendar. During their performance, which lasted about 25 minutes, the MB-339A/PAN aircraft performed spectacular maneuvers such as the "bomb", the "cardioid" and the famous "tricolor spark", leaving behind a long trail of green, white and red smoke. The highlight, as always, was the drawing of the heart in the sky, a symbol of the patrol's affection for the public. The Frecce Tricolori, founded in 1961 and composed of ten pilots (nine in formation and one soloist), represent not only excellence in aerobatic flight but also a strong symbol of Italian unity and identity. Their performance is always more than just a show: it is a moment of collective emotion, which unites generations and celebrates the professionalism of the Armed Forces.
GALLERY Rivolto 65° Frecce Tricolori
