RAF C-130J Hercules aircraft conduct semi-prepared runway operations in Italy

On Oct. 1 and 2, RAF C-130J cargo planes deployed to Grazzanise airbase, in Italy, home of the 9° Stormo (Wing) to conduct SPRO (semi-prepared runway operation) training.

The activity, dubbed “Enzo Spirit”, was organized and conducted within the framework of a bilateral agreement between Italy and UK, to perform joint advanced training and consolidate standard operating procedures.

Day and night activity on the local semi-prepared runway was particularly important to perform training in anticipation of future aircrew employment in areas lacking conventional runways.

Image credit: Italian Air Force/9° Stormo

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David Cenciotti is a freelance 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 four books.