“Wings of Storm” presents the Season 2016 sequence
The Aerobatic Display Team “Wings of Storm”, which belongs to the Fixed-wing Squadron of the 93rd Croatian Air Force and Air Defence Base, on 11 May 2016 presented its 2016 Season sequence in the “Zemunik” Barracks.
The programme comprises 23 flying elements in the duration of 24 minutes. The Team, who are entering their 12th season, will fily the formation spin (their first performance), which is a rarity among the international aerobatic groups.
The inverted diamond turn and the inside-outside loop ihave been reintroduced into the sequence, reinforcing its eye-catching effect.
“Wings of Storm ” will perform in a 6-PC-9M formation, with Lieutenant Colonel Damir Barišić (Deputy Squadron Commander and Team Leader, Captain Ivan Anđić, 1st Left Wing; 1st Lieutenant Goran Grgić, 1st Right Wing; 1st Lieutenant Darko Belančić, Slot, 2nd Lieutenant Denis Živaljić, 2nd Left Wing and Captain Zvonimir Mravunac, 2nd Right Wing.
The Commander of the 93rd Air Base, Colonel Karol Lučan opened the presentation and on its completion congratulated the Team on the excellent performance and emphasised that it would continue its promotional role of the pilot profession and capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces in the domestic and international events.
Lieutenant Colonel Damir Barisić, Team Leader, said he was proud of the Team’s pilots and was confident of its future. “The young pilots merit the trust and respect, as they have mastered the highly demanding flying elements winning the Team a place among the world’s best aerobatic display teams. They just needed the opportunity, and the role of us more experienced pilots is to lead and support them, and they will eventuually take over the duty and instruct the younger generations of top pilots“. Lt. Col. Barišić admitted he was looking forward to taking part in the international airshow in the United Kingdom – the most prestigious and the largest military aviation event, which entered the Guinness World Records Book for hosting 535 performing aircraft.
The presentation hosted special guests – aviation enthousiasts, aircraft spotters and the children from the kindergarten of Murter.
The Aerobatic Team “Wings of Storm“ was publicly presented on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Operation “Storm“ (after which it was named) in Knin, 5 August 2005. It flew in the 5-aircraft formation until 2009, when it presented a 6-aircraft formation. The presentation of the new season sequence is the Team’s 117th performance ( 76 domestic and 41 international performances in 13 countries).
“Wings of Storm” is to take part in two international airshows in the course of 2016 – the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT)at the Fairford Air Base from 7-11 July, which will be the Group’s first performance in the United Kingdom, and AIRPOWER16 on 2- 3 September in Zeltweg, Austria for the third time (they performed there in 2009 and 2011).
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