On the 17th and 18th of June, a spectacular show was held at the Pratica di Mare Air Base to celebrate Aeronautica Militare centenary. The two-day event was the culmination of the celebrations that began earlier this year at various Air Force bases and over populated places.The program began with flights of single aircraft and groups. A parade followed with a formation flyover of aircraft from the past and present of the Italian Air Force. After that, a formation of Eurofighter, F-35, M-346 forming the number "100" passed over the visitors. At the end of the day solo demonstrations of F-86, M-346, AW-139 and Eurofighter delighted the crowd. And of course the show was closed by Italy's national demonstration group Frecce Tricolori.Overall, the event presented the history of the Italian Air Force. We saw flying replicas and originals of the WW1 Caproni Ca-3 twin-engine bomber and SPAD S.XIII fighter, walked through WW2 aircraft such as the Spitfire, P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt and those from the era of the first jets such as CT-33 Silver star, F-86 Saber and G-91. The most desperate aircraft in the air shows was definitely the F-104 Starfighter, which arrived disassembled from the US and was reassembled in Italy. The combat aircraft currently in service in Aeronautica Militare were represented by the Tornado, Eurofighter, F-35A and F-35B. AMX light bombers, which are about to be retired, also took part in the celebration.There was also a great variety of helicopters, training and transport aircraft, most of them produced in Italy.

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