Airshow Features Red Arrows and Historic Aircraft in Salò and Gardone Riviera
The program for the Airshow has been announced, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 12th in Salò, Gardone Riviera, and Toscolano Maderno, focusing on the British Red Arrows (“Thé Red Arrows”). It starts at 12:30 PM with a farewell flypast by the fleet from the Brescia Aero Club, followed by performances of the North American T6 Harvard, the MH 1521 Broussard, the Sìai Marchetti Sf260 Tp, the PittsSiTGM, the Italian national aerobatic team, Maurizio Costa on Cap 21 DS, and Sergio Dallan on Sukhoi SU 31. Since the event will cost (to public authorities) around forty million euros, the three municipalities and the provincial administration have joined forces to share the expenses.
The Red Arrows and Their History
“The Red Arrows,” the English Red Arrows, are the permanent aerobatic team of the Royal Air Force (RAF), established in 1965 at the Fairford base (Gloucestershire), as a detachment of the Central Flying School. The five Hawker Siddeley Gnat T.Mk 1, painted in lemon yellow, were repainted in red and supplemented with two additional aircraft.
In 1966, the team moved to Kemble (Wiltshire), increasing its personnel to nine. In 1968, a white lightning bolt was added to the sides of the fuselage. By 1980, the team, recognized as one of the best in the world for pioneering numerous new formation maneuvers, transitioned to the Bae Hawk T.Mk 1. In 1983, they transferred to the RAF base at Scampton.
Acrobatic Evolutions and Figures
“During an exhibition takeoff,” say the pilots, “numbers 1, 2, and 3 depart first, followed by numbers 4 and 5 at a distance of 750 meters, then the four aircraft at the tail. The first three climb in a tight V formation, then are joined by the other two. Afterwards, the last aircraft join, forming the basic figure ‘Nine-Diamond,’ a tightly packed diamond, which is also our trademark. We then turn back behind the audience to form the ‘Nine Arrow.’ While flying, we emit blue smoke.”
Other figures include: “Great Nine,” “Great Vixen,” “Eagle,” “Apollo,” “Concorde,” “Fred,” “Delta,” “Leader’s Benefit,” “Spaghetti,” among others. These involve turns, candle-like corkscrews, horizontal or frollino spins, crossed tonneaus, inverted flights, and dives.
The Professionalism and Training
“Our task is to demonstrate professionalism and teamwork,” continue the pilots. “Behind the scenes, there is organization, logistics, administration, and technical support. The key to everything is precise timing, to the fraction of a second. If we are instructed to start at 15:25, we begin exactly then. All planning is highly detailed. During tense situations, we do not perform aerobatic displays: the aircraft are repainted and armed with missiles, ready for action.”
All team members are highly experienced, most of them instructors. Each year, they invite RAF units to send in requests for admission. Candidates must have at least 2,000 flight hours and be no older than 34–35 years. The minimum experience required is about ten years. We constantly look for capable personnel, both pilots and external relations staff.
The challenge lies in maintaining precision, which is achieved solely through maximum concentration. Flights in inverted attitude are risky: you’re close to the ground, moving slowly, upside down, and feel like falling. Extreme caution is required. But, upon reflection, crossing a street in London is more dangerous.”