Frecce Tricolori

The Frecce Tricolori (“Tricolour Arrows”), officially known as the 313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico, Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale (PAN) Frecce Tricolori, is the aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force and one of Italy’s national symbols. Based at Rivolto Air Base in the province of Udine, the team was established on 1 March 1961 as a permanent group dedicated to fostering and perfecting air acrobatics among Air Force pilots. This formation marked the culmination of decades of experimentation and evolution in Italian military aerobatics that had begun as early as the 1930s.

The roots of Italian acrobatic demonstration teams can be traced to 1930 when the first acrobatic flight school was launched at Udine-Campoformido Airport on the initiative of Colonel Rino Corso Fougier, then commander of the 1st Fighter Wing. In its infancy, the formation featured a modest five-aircraft display using Fiat C.R.20s, and already on 8 June 1930 the air show known as “Wing Day” saw these planes perform a maneuver similar to the modern “bomb.” During the interwar period, various unofficial patrols emerged under the sponsorship of different commands, with notable displays using Breda Ba.19 in 1932, Fiat CR.30 in 1934, and Fiat CR.32 from 1936. In 1938 during the inauguration of Milan-Linate Airport, the acrobatic unit, led by Chief Patrol Bruno Sartori—later to be recognized with the Silver Medal of Military Valor—demonstrated the precision and skill that would become a hallmark of Italian aerobatics.

World War II interrupted this early development, and the acrobatic patrols were dissolved during the conflict. In the postwar era, renewed enthusiasm saw the reformation of these teams, although they were not officially designated as acrobatic patrols. The 51st Fighter Wing, flying US P-51D Mustangs and British Spitfire Mk.IX aircraft, was the first to perform a formation flight with three Spitfires during an air show at Padua Airport in September 1947. This period also witnessed the creation of another aerobatic formation within the 5th Wing, as pilots sought to recapture the pre-war spirit of acrobatic flight.

The 1950s saw significant evolution and diversification. In 1950, a patrol called Cavallino Rampante (Prancing Horse) emerged from the 4th Wing, flying de Havilland D.H.100 Vampire aircraft. Shortly thereafter, in 1953, a unit known as Guizzo (Wriggle) was established from the 5th Wing and was equipped with F-84G Thunderjet aircraft. Guizzo became renowned for reintroducing the ‘bomb’ maneuver, where four pilots at the peak of a looping formation would swoop down in opposite directions before passing one another near the ground. The striking public recognition of their performances led to the production of a film titled The Four of the Thundering Jet, after which Guizzo officially changed its name to Getti Tonanti (Thundering Jets), continuing operations until their replacement by the Tigri Bianche (White Tigers) of the 51st Fighter Wing on the same model aircraft. The success of these groups encouraged a revival of the Cavallino Rampante formation, which by 1957 was operating the F-86E Saber and achieving international recognition at venues such as the Paris Air Show, notably aided by the innovative use of a white smoke generator to accentuate their aerobatic maneuvers. Additionally, 1957 saw the introduction of the Diavoli Rossi (Red Devils) from the 6th Fighter Wing, who used the F-84F Thunderstreak and even toured the United States, as well as the Lanceri Neri (Black Lancers) from the 2nd Aerobrigata, who flew F-86E Sabers and showcased their skills in Iran in the presence of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In 1959 the Getti Tonanti formation was reconstituted with F-84F aircraft, its livery modified in 1960 with the addition of the five circles of the Olympic flag in celebration of the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

By the end of 1960, with multiple acrobatic formations active yet operating independently, the Italian Air Force decided to consolidate its best talents into a single, nationally representative aerobatic team. Major Mario Squarcina, previously the leader of the Diavoli Rossi, was tasked by the General Staff of the Italian Air Force with creating the new unit. This led to the establishment of the 313th Aerobatic Training Group, officially inaugurated on 1 March 1961 at Rivolto Air Base, with an initial operational cadre that included six North American F-86 Sabers transferred from the 4th Air Brigade. The National Aerobatic Patrol (Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale, PAN) had its first public debut on 1 May 1961 in a display at the Trento-Gardolo airport during a local Aero Club air show. The nascent team’s progress was marked by both achievements and challenges, including a tragic accident on 3 May 1961 during a flight that claimed the life of a pilot.

Initially flying the F-86 Sabre until 1963, the team expanded its membership and capabilities and added the use of colored smoke to enhance its visual displays. In 1964 the Fiat G.91PAN fighter-bombers were introduced, providing further refinement in the performance of aerobatic maneuvers; by 1982 these were replaced by the Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN, a two-seat fighter-trainer capable of reaching speeds of 898 km/h at sea level. With a formation of ten aircraft—nine flying in close formation and one soloist—the Frecce Tricolori became the world’s largest acrobatic patrol, renowned for its approximately twenty different aerobatic maneuvers showcased in a flight routine lasting around half an hour. Their stylized tricolour smoke trails have become an identifying symbol, radiating the colors of the Italian flag and adding to the team’s national prestige.

Over the decades the Frecce Tricolori amassed a celebrated history of international performances and remarkable achievements. In 2000 the team celebrated reaching 50,000 flying hours on the Aermacchi MB-339, and in 2005 they were awarded the best exhibition prize at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, England. They also became the first non-Russian unit to be honored with the Russian Silver Medal for Aeronautical Merit. Their international engagements have included solemn state occasions, such as the 8 September 2007 fly-past at the funeral of renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti in Modena, during which they paid tribute with a well-coordinated display of green-white-red smoke trails.

However, the history of the Frecce Tricolori has not been without controversy. On 28 August 1988, the team was involved in the Ramstein air show disaster during a demonstration in Germany, one of the worst air show accidents in history. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of 67 spectators in addition to the deaths of three pilots, and left 346 spectators with serious injuries. The timing of the accident was further marred by the fact that two of the deceased pilots, Mario Naldini and Ivo Nutarelli, were scheduled to testify at the trial concerning Itavia Flight 870 just days later. These circumstances have contributed to persistent suspicions and a range of conspiracy theories surrounding the events at Ramstein.

Throughout its operational history, the Frecce Tricolori has continually evolved its aircraft and performance techniques. The distinctive livery of the Aermacchi MB-339 employed by the team features a Savoy blue background crossed by a tricolour band and is complemented by a light gray underside and yellow stickers denoting formation numbers. Modifications to the aircraft, such as the removal of wingtip tanks to enhance acrobatic performance and the use of specially designed subalary tanks, reflect the team’s commitment to both safety and visual impact during maneuvers. The colored smoke, an integral part of the aerial display, is created by dispersing a mixture of vaseline oil and non-polluting pigments through small tubes at the rear exhaust, producing the vivid trails seen by spectators worldwide.

Plans for future updates to the team’s equipment have been an ongoing discussion within the Italian Air Force. Although a replacement of the MB-339PAN with the Alenia Aermacchi M.345 High-Efficiency Trainer was proposed for 2017 and later scheduled for service in 2020, delays and reevaluations meant that as of 2024 the MB-339PAN remained in service. Then, on 12 September 2024, the Italian Air Force officially announced that the Frecce Tricolori would transition to the new Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master aircraft, signaling a new chapter in the evolution of Italy’s premier aerobatic demonstration unit.