New “Wings of Storm” team displays Season 2015 programme

In the season 2015 the“Wings of Storm“ will display in a formation of five Pilatus PC-9M aircraft, flown by Major Damir Barišić (Team Leader), Captain Ivan Anđić (Left Wing), 1st Lieutenant Goran Grgić, (Right Wing), 1st Lieutenant Darko Belančić (Slot), 2nd Lieutenant Denis Živaljić (2nd Left Wing); Captain Zvonimir Mravunac is undergoing the training for 2nd Right Wing.
The 20-minute demonstration programme gracing the skies over the Zemunik Barracks featured a series of eye-catching manoeuvres performed by only a few aerobatic groups, such as “barrel roll“, “cross-over“ “mirror brake“, “stall turn“, “mirror turn“, “vertical eight“ as well as the Team’s unique “tailslide“ manoeuvre.
Following the presentation of the flying programme, the 93rd Base Commander, Colonel Karol Lučan presented the pilots with the respective badges and certificates.
Commending the outcome of the new Team members’ two-month training Colonel Lučan stressed: “The Wings of Storm have presented  a new and young team, to continue representing the Croatian Air Force, the Armed Forces and the Republic of Croatia with utmost dignity“.
Major Damir Barišić expressed satisfaction as Team Leader, stressing that the Team was composed of highly motivated and promising pilots, who met the expectations. 
“Wings of Storm“ were first presented in public in Knin on 5 August 2015, on the occasion of marking the 10th anniversary of the Police and Military Operation “Storm“.
Presenting the skills and high level of trainedness of the members of the Croatian Air Force the Team has had 107 performances (66 home and 41 abroad, in Romania, Slovenia, Hungary, Germany,  Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Italia, Turkey, Poland, Denmark and Switzerland).
Flying the programme the Pilatus aircraft fly at the speed of 550 km/h at a close distance (-2 m) from each other, and in performing some of the manouevres pilots are exposed to -2.5 Gz to 6.5 Gz. The Team’s performing abilities and the demanding flying figures have won international recognition and invitations to a number of famous air shows and events abroad, repeatedly demonstrating to be among the world’s top teams. They regularly performed at important state and Armed Forces’ ceremonies.
“Wings of Storm“ have won a number of awards and commendations, such as the Best Aerobatic Team Performance award from the CIAF 2012 in the Czech Republic and from the RDAF Air Show in Denmark. Furthermore, in 2010 the Team was awarded the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence Plaque, the commendation from the Chief of the General Staff and in 2013 they received the City of Zadar Award. As many as 14 pilots flew in the Team since its establishment.