100 years of Italian Naval Aviation

[Dysko]

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Italian Naval Aviation. The Italian Navy celebrated the anniversary with open days in 3 naval air stations. Here are some photos from MARISTAELI (Navy Helicopter Station) Luni.

 

AgustaWestland AW101, ASW version

 

AW101, transport version

 

AW101 cockpit

 

NHIndustries NH-90, ASW version

 

NH-90 cockpit

 

NH-90 SONAR station

 

Coast Guard Agusta-Bell AB412

 

The remains of an Agusta-Sikorsky ASH-3D Sea King

 

The various gate guardians:

Agusta-Bell AB47J

 

Sikorsky SH-34J Seabat

 

Agusta-Bell AB204

 

Agusta-Bell AB47G on a monument dedicated to admiral Giovanni Fiorini, founder of the modern Italian Naval Aviation

 

One of the EH-101 prototypes

 

Some photos of the guided visit in the base:

Egress Training Simulator

 

Northrop Shelduck target drone

 

Marshaller uniform

 

An AB47J model made with metal pipes

 

The base chapel's clocktower, built with the rotor and the trasmission of a SH-34

 

Drone

 

A propeller to remember this airbase belonged to the Air Force, before being assigned to the Navy

[Hans Topp]

Nice photos, Dysko, it flys the nh90???

[Dysko]

Nice photos, Dysko, it flys the nh90???

The Navy NH-90s are still being delivered, so far only 5 have been delivered, so I guess they aren't operational yet.

The Army NH-90s are already operational. One of them was lost in 2007 during an airshow when it impacted the surface of the lake above which it was performing, with the loss of one of the 3 crewmembers. Few days later, I visited Sarzana naval air station with my university, and we were told that he was the only crewmember who hadn't been trained on the ETS (ETS training is not mandatory for Army and Air Force helicopter pilots, unless they are certified for long overwater flights).

[exhausted]

Italy also uses Harrier II+s!

 

Very cool!!!

[Dysko]

Italy also uses Harrier II+s!

That's correct, they are based on board aircraft carriers "Giuseppe Garibaldi" and "Conte di Cavour", and they are to be replaced with F-35Bs.

Since I live far from the sea, I've seen an Italian Navy Harrier only once, at an airshow in 2002.

[soldado]

Nice Choppers, i like so much this EH-101 and NH-90 in asw versions, thanks.

[+russouk2004]

EH-101...Its called merlin here in uk...see them fly over low on maneuvers over and around missus`s mums house rooftop height...in abbingdon\wooton...they land at dalton barracks..RAF version that is

Edited October 27, 2013 by russouk2004