The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)
Italian Air Force 1999 Air Show at Grosseto Air Base
During 1999, there was just one military air show in Italy, organized on 26 September at the Grosseto air base by the resident 4th Wing.
The event, dubbed Giornata Azzurra 1999 (blue day), was also the occasion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of NATO and some air forces in the alliance came in with their aircraft. Royal Air Force was also represented by the Red Arrows aerobatic team.
Italian Air Force gathered all the aircraft types in its inventory, both in static and flying display; aircraft of the other Italian Armed Forces and Corps were also present at Grosseto.
A selection of WW2 fighters were on exhibition, such as static Macchi MC.202 Folgore and Fiat G.55 Centauro; Vought FG-1D (F4U-1D) Corsair and North American P-51D Mustang of Old Flying Machine Co. performed an outstanding pair flight programme.
F-104S/ASAs belonging to both squadrons of 4th Wing flew over the airport in a nine aircraft strong formation, just before the presentation of a development aircraft Eurofighter EF 2000, the new collaborative fighter destined to replace IAF Starfighters from 2001 on.
AMI plans to organize, from now on, just one main public air show each year. The 2000 event is planned on 3 September next year, at Rivolto air base, combined with the coming edition of the international Aerobatic Team Pilots Meeting.
In the picture: Alenia F-104S/ASAs belonging to 9th and 20th Squadron of 4th Wing IAF, at the "Giornata Azzurra 1999" air show in Grosseto.
(Aeromedia, November 1999)
| Alenia/Aermacchi/Embraer AMX
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| Eurofighter EF 2000
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| Aermacchi MB-339CD
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| Boeing B.707 T/T
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| Panavia Tornado IDS
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| Alenia G 222
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