The Frecce Tricolori in New York
The Italian national aerobatic team, the Frecce Tricolori (“tri-colored arrows” in Italian), are a jet aerobatic team consisting of 10 Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN trainer aircraft. The show primarly consists of nine of the jets flying various formation sets and a solo high-performance demonstration. While the demonstration is rooted in the European tradition; emphasizing large formations of aircraft, frequent formation breaks and rejoins, and colored spoke, the Italians do distingiush themselves from other teams with a few signature manuevers. Several of the formation breaks involve high-closure rate crosses with sets of four and five jets. The team’s massive nine-plane cross is probably the largest such crossing manuever performed anywhere, with jets converging on center point from seeimgly everywhere. Of course, the climax of the show features tenor Luciano Pavarotti’s classic singing of the aria Nessun Dorma from Pucinni’s opera Turdandot inthe background, while the nine formation jets are pierced by the solo jet pitching into the vertical, while the formation jets then switch to green, white, and red smoke. The formation jets then paint a giant Italian flag in the sky as Pavarotti sings the aria’s final lines: “Vincerò, Vincerò! (I will win! I will win!)” It’s enough to inspire patriotic fervor in those without a drop of Italian blood in them. Yet the grandiosity of the the final manuever is balanced by the solo jet’s “crazy flight” pass, where “Pony 10” pitches the MB-339 up and down as if drunk on a fine Tuscan wine. Likewise, the solo jet performs several negative-G maneuvers, a tail-slide and whipstall, and a Lomcovák—a tumbling manuever which I believe is entirely unique within any jet demonstration team’s performance. Ultimately, for all spectacle and passion on display, it could be missed that some supreme airmanship is on display. Such a performance does not occur without serious stick-and-rudder chops and a lot of practice. I am grateful to have seen the Frecce Tricolori perform on several occasions. It is always a thrilling show and one I am very glad they again brought to the United States to share.
