The Italian Air Force (ItAF) has ordered the return to their homebases of the 3 HH-3Fs of the 15th Stormo, that were on a deployment airport when all the “Pelikans” of the Aeronautica Militare were grounded following the Oct. 23 crash that caused the loss of 8 military. Actually, the return will be authorized only after all the blades of the main rotor will be replaced and the subsequent checks will be successfully completed. The first aircraft to head back will be the helicopter of the 83° Centro SAR, based in Rimini, that was flying along with the example that crashed in France on Oct. 23, and that is currently under maintenance at Florennes airbase, in Belgium. Following it will be the time of the HH-3F on the ground at Vicenza and of the one currently grounded at Biserta, in Tunisia, where it was deployed for an exercise with the Tunisian Air Force.
After moving all the 3 helicopters back to their bases, the entire fleet will receive the new blades and will be cleared back to flying activity. Currently a partial SAR (Search And Rescue) service is provided by the AB.212AMI-SARs and ICOs.
More from The Aviationist
The Incredible Armada of Aircraft Behind 1969’s Battle of Britain Film
On Sept. 15, 1969, cinema audiences were treated to a dramatic portrayal…
US Approves Possible Sale of Nine KC-46A Pegasus Tankers for Japan
The latest deal would take the number of KC-46As in Japan’s inventory…
U.S. State Department Approves $7.2B Sale Of F-35 Jets To Romania
The Foreign Military Sale’s approval comes after Romania announced the plan to…
Wooden Avengers, Target Kites, and Draftees: How America’s First New Deal Community Took the Fight to the Axis
Situated in the quiet hills of West Virginia, the small town of…
DARPA Awards BAE Systems $4 Million for Autonomous Beyond Visual Range Air Combat Program
Autonomy solutions for BVR combat will initially be developed and demonstrated on…
