Archive

Archive for March, 2009

Air-to-Air with the NH-500E of the 72° Stormo

March 13th, 2009 No comments

The Italian helicopter school, the 72nd Stormo (Wing), is quite an atypical unit in the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force, ItAF). In fact, despite not being structured like the classic OCU (Operational Convertion Unit), it keeps its training role while undertaking operative missions abroad in Peace Keeping/Enforcing Operations. The 72nd Stormo is equipped with NH-500Es, a platform that can best be described as versatile: it is small, fast, maneuverable and is an easyily maintainable aircraft that can also carry light armament. For all these reasons, the Italian Air Force is studying the possibility of employing it within a mixed force focused in the SMI (Slow Movers Interception) role.
David Cenciotti went to Frosinone to describe the present and future of the only Italian School involved in the so-called out-of-area operations.

Full article: http://cencio4.wordpress.com/works/72-stormo/

““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““
““

Share
Categories: Aviation Tags: , ,

Sonic booms and condensation clouds

March 13th, 2009 No comments

Pictures taken at Axalp arise more or less the same question. People wants to know if the condensation clouds surrounding the aircraft represent some kind of visual manifestation of the “sonic boom” or some other phenomenon tied to the flight at transonic speeds…
Read the rest of the article here: http://cencio4.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/sonic-booms-and-condensation-clouds-explained/





Share
Categories: Aviation Tags: , , , , ,

The Italian Air Force A319CJ

March 12th, 2009 No comments

Have you ever wondered what’s the internal set up of the Italian Air Force One? Have you ever guessed if the seat of the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is comfortable?
On Apr 17, I had the opportunity to sit on that important (and comfortable) chair since I flew in one of the 3 A319CJ of the 31° Stormo, the unit within the Aeronautica Militare undertaking VIP transportation missions (among the important persons carried by the aircraft of the 31 Stormo there’s also Pope Benedict XVI, who often use the SH-3D of the 93° Gruppo). The opportunity was provided by a Media Flight organized by the Italian Air Force Press Office to bring journlists and photographers to Decimomannu to attend the Media Day of the Exercise Spring Flag (for more info and pictures search “Spring Flag” in this site using the search field in the upper right hand column). Along with other media representatives, I boarded the aircraft serialled MM62174 (the other two A319CJ of the ItAF are the MM62209 and MM62243) of the 306° Gruppo, parked in the 31° Stormo apron at Ciampino airport, Rome, and made two flights (to and from Deci) lasting slightly less than 1 hour each.
Immediately after boarding through the front stairs I gave a quick look at the “glass” cockpit with retractable HUD (Head Up Display), MFDs (Multi-Function Displays) and all the other features of a commercial A319, IFF and radio equipment aside. The standard crew is composed by 2 pilots (”I-2174″ flight had Gen. Parma, former Cdr of the 31° Stormo and current Cdr of the Comando delle Forze per la Mobilità e il Supporto, on the left seat in the cockpit), 2 flight engineers, 2 stewards…..

The rest of the article can be read here: http://cencio4.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/inside-the-italian-air-force-one/











Share
Categories: Aviation Tags: ,