The Special livery features the White Tiger of the 351^ Squadriglia of the 12° Gruppo Caccia.
On May 6, 2022, at Gioia del Colle Air Base, in southeastern Italy, home of the 36° Stormo (Wing), the Italian Air Force unveiled a Eurofighter Typhoon in Special Color scheme that was prepared for this year’s edition of the Tiger Meet, the international exercise attended by all the NATO flying units that have a tiger as their emblem. Two Italian units usually take part in NTM: the 21° Gruppo (Squadron) of the 9° Stormo, based at Grazzanise, which flies HH-101 Caesar and HH-212 helicopters; and the 12° Gruppo Caccia (Fighter Squadron) of the 36° Stormo, based at Gioia, which flies the Eurofighter Typhoon (F-2000 in accordance to Italy’s MOD Mission Design Series). However, this year, only the 12° Gruppo will attend the exercise at Araxos Air Base, Greece.
While the Squadron’s emblem doesn’t feature a tiger, one of the subordinate units of the 12° Gruppo does: the 351^ Squadriglia (Flight) “Tigri Bianche” (White Tigers). The white tiger is featured predominantly on the black background of the aircraft’s tail and wing, together with the squadron’s emblem. The special color livery was kept under wraps until the first test flight before the aircraft was deployed to Araxos together with four other Eurofighters.
Last year, the 12° Gruppo won the Silver Tiger Trophy, the prize for the unit that distinguishes itself among the other participants during the two-week exercise. This year’s edition is scheduled to take place from May 9 to 20, with a dozen units invited and multiple Hellenic Air Force units supporting the exercise as external participants.
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We will publish soon a full report about the first flight of this Special Color aircraft and the departure for the exercise, so stay tuned!
