MOOSE JAW - To celebrate the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) 100-year anniversary this summer, members of the Italian air demonstration team Frecce Tricolori — the “Tri-Colour Arrows” — made a stop at 15 Wing Moose Jaw during a North American tour set to conclude on Aug 26.
to a backdrop of hot, humid, and hazy conditions almost reminiscent of home.
“Everything started (with an) invitation from the Royal Canadian Air Force for (its) 100th anniversary,” said Lt. Col. Massamiliano Salvatore, a pilot with the Frecce Tricolori air demonstration team.
“It’s been a good experience for us to fly around North America… (and) celebrate 100 years of the Royal Canadian Air Force.”
Lt. Col. Salvatore has been with the Frecce Tricolori air demonstration team since 2013 and is now flying in his 11th season. In his first five years he served as a wingman, and since then he’s been flying as a solo pilot.
Last year, the Italian Ministero Della Difesa (Ministry of Defence) celebrated the same 100-year milestone for its own air force, the Aeronautica Militare (Air Force). Originally founded in 1923 as an independent service arm, Italy’s Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force) was renamed to reflect its current designation in 1946.
The Frecce Tricolori team was originally founded on Mar. 1, 1961, as a permanent group to train Italian Airforce pilots in air acrobatics. The group replaced various unofficial teams who were each sponsored by various regional commands going back to the early ‘30s.
Today, Frecce Tricolori is one of the most famous air demonstration teams in the world and is described as a proud national symbol for Italy.
The team currently flies the Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN, a two-seat fighter-trainer capable of reaching speeds of 898 km/h at sea level and is based out of Rivolto Air Base in the province of Udine, Italy.
When the Italian team landed at 15 Wing, they were greeted to an unusual sight — many ground crew members wore the red jumpsuit indicative of the Snowbirds air demonstration team which contrasted with the blue uniforms of the Frecce Tricolori pilots.
“It was a good experience for us,” Salvatore said. “We share the same professionalism; we do the same job (and) we represent our air forces.
“We are all the people that work every day, 24 hours a day to ensure the security of our countries.”
The job of flying with an air demonstration team is a big responsibility but also comes with great opportunities, Salvatore said.
“We (represent) all our colleagues that are working in the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force),” he stated.
“But this is, at the same time, a great experience because we have the opportunity to see the public… and (witness) the emotions that the green, white, and red smoke generates on the public.”
due to low visibility concerns brought about by recent wildfires.
The team’s next stop will be in Milwaukee, WI, for the Milwaukee Air & Water Show set to take place on July 27 and 28.
“We are very happy to be here in North America,” Salvatore said. This tour marks the team’s first visit since its Columbus mission in 1992 and its first Canada-US tour in 1986.
For more information about the team and its ongoing North American tour, visit .
