One of the F-16s of the 23° Gruppo (Squadron) during the Spotter Day. (All images: Author).
The following aircraft were noted during the Spotter Day held in Cervia on June 20, 2008, to watch the arrivals of the Italian and foreign squadrons invited by the 23° Gruppo to celebrate its 90th Anniversary.
Here’s the log of the activity:
AT-21 Alpha Jet BAF but flown by EC2/8 of the FAF crews
AT-23 Alpha Jet BAF but flown by EC2/8 of the FAF crews
135 Red L-39 2 Sqn HuAF
C.14-38 14-20 Mir F.1 Esc 141 SpAF
C.14-10 14-05 Mir F.1 Esc 141 SpAF
E-180 F-16A-MLU Esk 727
ET-199 F-16B-MLU Esk 727
XX285 Hawk 100 Sqn RAF Special markings 90th Anniversary
XX284/CA Hawk 100 Sqn RAF
89-2047 F-16CG 510FS
89-2018 F-16CG 510FS
MM54514 “61-64” MB.339A 213 Gr
MM7059 “50-47” Tornado ECR 155 Gr
MM7078 “36-30” Tornado 156 Gr
MM7080 “6-33” Tornado 102 Gr Special Colour
MM6940 “5-30” F-104ASA-M preserved
MM7169 “51-66” AMX 132Gr
MM7239 F-16ADF 23 Gr
MM7251 F-16ADF 23 Gr Special Colour
MM7252 F-16ADF 23 Gr
MM7259 F-16ADF 23 Gr
MM7262 F-16ADF 23 Gr
MM7269 F-16B 18 Gr
MM7273 “36-02” F-2000 12 Gr
MM61970 “5-55” S208M 605SC
MM81343 “15-31” HH-3F 83 CSAR
Here are some images of the event:
One of F-16s of the local-based 23° Gruppo of the 5° Stormo taxies ahead of take off.An Italian Viper taxies in front of the photographers stand.A Special Colored Tornado of the 102° OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) based at Ghedi.A Eurofighter Typhoon of the 36° Stormo based at Gioia del Colle AB.The special colored F-16 MM7251 leads a formation of Vipers of the 23° Gruppo.The Special Color of the 23° Gruppo, MM7251, unveiled during the Spotter Day.A French Alpha Jet.The special L-39 of the 2 Sqn of the Hungarian Air ForceA Spanish Air Force Mirage F1.A local Viper lands after the display.AMX of the 132° Gruppo from Istrana MM7169/ 51-66.A Tornado ECR of the 155° Gruppo ETS based at Piacenza AB.A RAF Hawk.Among the visitors, also this F-16C of the 510th Fighter Squadron from Aviano AB.A Special-themed MV Agusta motorbike.An F-16 of the 23° Gruppo shows the tri-colored travel pod.An F-16 of the 23° Gruppo on the squadron’s apron after the flight.The official car of the 23° Gruppo!
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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