Frecce Tricolori, Aerobatic demonstration team in Rivolto, Italy
Frecce Tricolori is an aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force based in Rivolto, a military installation in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. The group operates ten Aermacchi MB-339 aircraft, with nine flying in coordinated formation and one performing solo routines.
The unit was established on March 1, 1961, at Rivolto Air Base, bringing together several informal demonstration groups active since the 1930s. The transition to the Aermacchi MB-339 took place in the 1980s, replacing earlier aircraft.
The name translates as "Three-Color Arrows," honoring the national flag colors that appear as smoke trails during each routine. Spectators watch the pilots draw shapes and patterns across the sky using timed releases of colored smoke canisters.
The display season begins each year on May 1 and includes around 35 performances across Italian and European cities. When weather conditions are unfavorable, pilots switch to a simplified program with fewer complex formations.
The squadron holds the status of the world's largest military aerobatic formation, and all pilots must log at least 750 hours on jet aircraft before selection. Each display covers a five-kilometer stretch of sky during full routines.
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