A Grob G103A Twin Astir glides towards Guidonia over the surrounding hills
History of the Volo a Vela Group goes back to beginning of the 20th century, when it inherited traditions of the Pavullo School in Frignano, founded in 1927. The actual establishment of departments dedicated to training on gliders within the Aeronatica Militare (Air Force) must certainly be attributed to Adriano Mantelli. As a fighter pilot and ace of the Regia Aeronautica Italiana (Royal Italian Air Force) during the Spanish War, he always had great interest in gliding. With this strong passion and interest, he started a small company (SDAM) in 1929 for the construction of gliders.
Moving on to modern times, on 1 January 2013 the Gruppo Volo a Vela (GVV) began transformation towards its current form when the CVV (Gliding Centre) was merged with the Guidonia Airport Command, assuming functions of a normal Flight Group. On 28 March 2013, the CVV was renamed as Gruppo Volo a Vela. After almost two years, on 15 February 2015, with the activation of 60o Stormo, the GVV finally took on its present form and the wing began to work in the new way.
With a variety of aircraft in its inventory, the pilots of 60 Stormo are skilled on different types to allow for maximum flexibility
The Gliding Group consists of two units, the 422nd and the 423rd Squadrons. Major ‘Max’ T, Squadron Commander of 60 Stormo, explained, “Our two squadrons are the operational ‘arm’ of the Wing, because they take care of all the activities related to flights entrusted to the Wing. Even though we are operating a full Wing, there are only ten pilots in charge of the GVV and all our pilots are ‘chameleon-like’, every day showing their knowledge of how to adapt to the individual management of every single person who performs flight activities at Guidonia. This ranges from a General who carries out AVM activities, to a student pilot for whom it is necessary to also impart military doctrine in addition to the notions of flight, to the civil student of the Aeronautical Culture Course who has no military background and must be managed in a different ways. Actually Guidonia is the only Italian Air Force base where gliders, propeller and jet aircraft are operating together and, in some periods, even helicopters with a TH-500B (local designation of the NH-500E)”.
S.205s with their unusual tail markings
Glider courses
The teaching of flying on gliders for those attending standard courses of the Air Academy is certainly one of the most interesting tasks for GVV instructor pilots, especially as this type has been included in the pilot training programme of the Italian Air Force, since Corso Eolo V (2005) onwards. As Maj T elaborated, “The student pilots arrive in Guidonia after having first obtained the BPA (Airplane Pilot License) in Latina. Each course consists of 48 students and every course usually lasts two weeks and about 20 flights are carried out, of which 12 are for qualification and eight to increase their skills. Out of the eight, the final three are carried out with launches by winch and the course ends with a solo flight”. These activities represent an important training step of the new training process called IPTS 2020 (Integrated Pilot Training System) and is key in obtaining the BPM (Military Pilot License). The students return to Guidonia by end of the second year of their studies to carry out a maintenance phase, while at end of the third year, they go to Latina to do the aerobatic-advanced part on the SIAI-Marchetti T-260B trainer (local designation of the SF.260EA).
Maj. T continued “The glider was included in the training process because it was considered very educational and introductory to learn coordination in general. Furthermore, it will help the student in the use of commands, especially with regards to the pedals, which are used much more in gliders than in motorised aircraft. Though qualification on the glider is not selective for the final ranking of the student, however, it can influence the final assignment of the future pilot for the type of aircraft (fighter, helicopter or transport)”.
There are several other tasks assigned to pilots of the GVV. These are more ad hoc and show the versatility of the pilots as they need to adapt to the different nature of these tasks. The pilots support 61o Stormo with a pilot being deployed in rotation to Lecce - Galatina for one month at a time, connect with operational activities with SIAI U-208A and T-339A / FT 339C,and includes operational activities outside of Italy.
Uniquely, students fly both the powered T-260B and gliders
Two MB-339 jet trainers are on loan from 61 Stormo at Lecce and used for both SAC training and generic pilot training
The authors thank men and women of 60 Stormo. Special thanks goes out to Maj. T and Cap. Pil. Angelucci for their support in writing this article.
Article and photos: Erik Bruijns