'Red Devils' at Ghedi

摘要

The very first Aeronautics Militare (AM, Italian Air Force) unit to utilise the Tornado was the 311° Gruppo (311th Squadron) of the Reparto Sperimentale Volo (RSV, the air force's flight-test unit) based at Pratica di Mare, near Rome. Beginning in the late 1970s, Tornado prototypes had carried out development activities with manufacturer Aeritalia before a first aircraft was officially delivered to the AM on March 3,1981 - this was PS14, which received the military serial MM7001 and the code 'RS-01'. The RSV took several Tornados on charge to complete trials for the new armament and systems integration. At the same time, the unit expanded the flight envelope for specific missions, ensuring the new jet met the air force's requirements. The 311° Gruppo continues to operate the Tornado and has also been tasked with displaying the jet at airshows in Italy and abroad.