21 June 2023 – Ghedi Airbase
Today is a special day.
A few hours after the conclusion of the largest Italian aviation event in recent years (I'm talking about the Pratica di Mare air show, of which you can find the article which), I find myself at the “Luigi Olivari” airport in Ghedi, base of the 6th Wing.
As part of the celebrations for the Centenary of the Air Force, here too it was decided to allow access to a small number of enthusiasts and show them the daily activities of the Base, with movements of the aircraft that currently equip the groups making up the Wing: 102°, 154° e 155°. So that's it, as soon as they entered and were accompanied to the square by the buses, we find ourselves in front of a Tornado IDS and a shiny F 35A Lightning II.
After a short briefing of the day ahead, with abundant explanation of the safety rules, we are taken to the square in front of the Tornado shelters which will shortly be started up to fly. A barrier has been set up that keeps us at the edge of the asphalt square, but still decidedly close to the operations and the photographs of the preparations and of the moving planes preparing for take-off commit us to 25 minutes.
While the planes taxi towards the runway we rush onto the buses which take us to the stand set up to photograph the thunderous take-offs, with abundant use of afterburners.
In the meantime we see the new planes that will equip the Red Devils approaching from the new structures built on the edge of the runway: the 5th Generation F 35A Lightning II fighters.
I am in 3 and they too take off making use of the extra thrust of the afterburner, which leads to almost 20 tons the power of their F engines 135.
Only half an hour passes since the last F 35 he got up from the ground and we see them again on the runway axis, in training. At the end of the passage they separate and begin a series of exciting low and fast passes, with sharp turns that highlight the tormented shapes of Lockheed Martin's stealth fighter.
After a bit of display from the new recruits, it's time for the return of the legendary Tornados who still show off an enviable agility in the element in which they most willingly wallow: the low altitude.
Age has not affected Panavia's massive bomber in the slightest and the passages with the afterburner on still elicit shouts of enthusiasm from enthusiasts.
In the end the Tornadoes come to land to leave the sky to a mixed formation made up of 3 F 35 and by a single Tornado.
A few more steps and then everyone goes home. Last surprise: greetings from the 51st Wing which with a formation of an AMX-T and 2 Typhoon wanted to send a greeting to all the spotters present. Also in this case, after the separation, the Typhoons flexed their muscles, and above all the flames of their afterburners, to the delight of the ears of those present.
Once these steps were also finished we returned to the initial hangar for the debriefing, led by the Commander of the 6th Wing, Colonel Roberto Del Vecchio.
What about: a great event, which we hope can be repeated in the future.
Thanks to the Centenary the 2023 it was a year full of events for fans. We hope that the 2024, even with the Centenary lights turned off, can continue with this trend.
Enjoy photos
