“Frecce Tricolori” introducing to the Croatian audience in Zadar

The Italian Air Force’s aerobatic group “Frecce Tricolori” on 23 March 2017 visited Zadar and the “Wings of Storm“ and performed practice flights and the flying programme for the season.

The Group arrived to Zemunik with the Aeromacchi MB339, and were welcomed by the “Wings of Storm“ Team Leader, Lt. Col. Damir Barišić.
Following the introduction the pilots of the two aerobatic groups conducted joint preparation followed by the display of manoeuvres from this year’s flying programme of the “Frecce Tricolori”.

The “Frecce Tricolori“ peformed „the Heart“ – the saluting manoeuvre over the waterfront in Zadar. The official presenter was Liberata D´aniello commented the programme in the Croatian language too for respect to the audience and to the “Wings of Storm“, and Lt.Col. Damir Barišić and 1st Lt. Darko Belančić flew aboard the Italian aircraft.
Lt. Col. Barišić expressed the satisfaction of the pilots of the “Wings of Storm“ over hosting the colleagues and friends of “Frecce Tricolori”. “Both groups are enjoying this joint activity.  Today 1st Lt Belančić and me flew aboard their aircraft and we shall resume in their base at Rivolto in Italy on 4 April. We have become friends at the group and individual levels in attending the international air shows together for years“, said Lt. Col Barišić.

The Group’s Commander Major Mirco Caffelli said it was their first visit to Zadar. “It is an excellent opportunity for us be here in Zadar and to practice our flying programme for  the season 2017, opening on 1 May.  Our group performs a number of manoeuvres with ten aircraft and it is eye-catching to watch us flying close to each other. The “Bomb“ is perhaps the most interesting of them, descending to the ground and break into nine different directions.  We have introduced a new manoeuvre –“the  scintilla“ (“spark“) which we want to present to the public in Zadar.  Unlike  the “Wings of Storm“ we fly on ten jet aircraft.  I joined the “Freccie Tricolori“ in 2007, which is also since when I have followed the “Wings of Storm“, and I have to say that their performances are incredible and stunning”, said Major Caffelli.

The “Frecce Tricolori” are one of the world’s largest and best known aerobatic groups and has been active for 57 years. Their flying programme  attracts enthousiastic attention, and one of the final flyovers leaving vapour trails in the colours of the Italian national flag to the recording of the aria by  Luciano Pavarotti.  The Commander of the “Frecce Tricolori“ is Major Mirco Caffelli, and the Team Leader is Major Gaetano Farina.

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