About This File
In the early 1990s, the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, or AMI) identified a requirement for
a fighter to boost its air defence capabilities pending introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon, expected around
2000. These fighters were to operate alongside the service's obsolescent F-104ASA Starfighters.
The Tornado ADV was selected from, amongst others, the F-16. On 17 November 1993, Italy signed an agreement with
the RAF to lease 24 Tornado F3s from the RAF for a period of ten years.
First training of AMI pilots began in March 1995 at RAF Coningsby while technicians gained experience at RAF
Cottesmore and Coningsby. The first aircraft was accepted on 5 July 1995 and flown to its Italian base the same day.
Delivery of the first batch was completed by 1996; these aircraft were deployed at Gioia del Colle in Southern Italy.
The second batch was delivered between February and July 1997, these aircraft were of a slightly higher specification.
They served with 12° Gruppo 36° Stormo at Gioia del Colle AB from 1995 to 2004 and with 21° Gruppo 53° Stormo at
Cameri AB from 1997 to 2001. In 1999 it joined 36° Stormo at Gioia del Colle AB and in 2001 was disbanded.
The AMI returned its Tornados to the RAF, with the final aircraft arriving at RAF Saint Athan on 7 December 2004.
WHAT'S IN:
- 3 new High Rez skins covering all A.M.I. service
- All historical group numbers and planes matricole
- edited data.ini with taxi dancing fixed with Italy export time
- edited userlist.ini with Italy
CREDITS:
- Bobrock: plane and templates
- Menvra: new ODS edition Tornado F.3 taiored to use with
- Paulopanz: skins & decals, ini tweakings
NOTE:
- Ready for Kosovo War duty
Enjoy
@ paulopanz
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