The Italian Aerospace Information Web
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Helishow 2002 in Rome

The first edition of Helishow, a new Italian event dedicated to the helicopter world, was held at the Roma/Urbe airfield during the last week-end of September, 2002. 30.000 people gathered to admire a number of interesting rotary-wing machines, mostly belonging to the Italian Military Forces and other para-military services. The flight display at Helishow was highlighted by the simulated fire fighting mission of a couple of Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane giant helicopter, operated by specialist Elilario in Italy.

During the event, a number of conferences were organized by ENAC, the Italian Aviation Authority; and one of the more interesting was dedicated to the possible future development of the Rome/Urbe airport. Many companies involved in the helicopter sector were present with some forms of display: AgustaWestland, Galileo Avionica, Vitrociset, Marconi Mobile, equipment manufacturers and service providers such as Mecaer, AirBP, GSE, Elettronica, ASE, AeroSekur, Aerotech, SEI ed EuroStar.

Despite the specific target of the exhibition, examples of fixed wing aircraft were on display at Helishow 2002. Among them two Piaggio P.180 twin-turboprops, one in executive and the other un medevac configuration, two Iniziative Industriali Italiane Sky Arrows VLA, one equipped for aerial minitoring and the other for atmospheric data gathering. A Vulcanair P.68 Observer 2 of the Italian State Police was also present.

In the picture: Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane N229AC of Erickson Air-Crane, during a firefighting demonstration. (Aeromedia/Maurizio Saladino)

(Aeromedia, September 2002)