Raduno Mondiale F-104 Starfighter

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Starfighter, the Italian Air Force organised a Raduno Mondiale (World Meeting) and combined it with an airshow. Pratica di Mare, close to Rome, was the place to be. At Saturday the 29th May, a ceremony was held at this large airbase. Former pilots and groundcrew from the following countries were invited to come to the World Meeting: United States of America, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Spain, Turkey, Taiwan and of course host country Italy. The airshow was planned for the sunday. Highlights during the show were the formation of nine Starfighters that made several passes and at the end of the show the red 'Ducati' Starfighter flew in formation with the Frecce Tricolori. The show attracted many visitors. Early in the morning, many people were waiting in front of the gate to enter the base and an Italian TV-station broadcasted the show live on television. After the landing of the '999' came not only an end on the operations with the Starfighter within the Aeronautica Militare Italiana, but also worldwide. Sad but true; Arriverdeci, Spilone!

The prototype of the Starfighter, the XF-104, was built in March 1953 and flew for the first time on the 7th February 1954. It was powered by a Curtiss Wright J-65 Sapphire turbojet. Subsequent models were fitted with the well known General Electric J-79 Engine.

In March 1962, the first unit of the Italian Air Force recieved the F-104G Starfighter. Within the AMI several versions were used; F-104G, TF-104G, F-104S, F-104S-ASA, F-104S-ASA-M and TF-104G-M. The Starfighters were used for several duties like interception, attack, strike and reconnaissance missions. In 42 years the Italian Starfighters flew more then a million hours. But in May 2004 it all came to an end; officially. Within a couple of months all the Starfighters will be phased out. Not only an end of an area within the Italian Air Force, but worldwide. If you might see a flying Starfighter in the future, it will be a civil one.

The pictures below are made on the Saturday as well as the Sunday.

This Starfighter looks operational, but in fact this one is well preserved. F-104G, serial MM6501/3-11, wears the old colourscheme and a large white code.

F-104S-ASA-M Starfighter, MM6873/4-9, is seen here wearing a black colourscheme celebrating 40 years of Starfighter within the Italian Air Force. This example belongs to 4° Stormo at Grosseto.

Another F-104S-ASA-M Starfighter in special colours on the taxiway. This example, the MM6930/9-99, belongs to 9° Stormo which is based at Grazzanise.

The third Starfighter at Pratica di Mare wearing special colours. This TF-104G-M, MM54253/4-20 wears a blue colourscheme with yellow lion markings. This Starfighter flew during the show together with two other two-seaters, which was lovely to hear...

Several Starfighters on the taxiway at Pratica di Mare.

Lovely to see, unfortunately also the last time.... Nine Starfighters including three duals trying to make as much smoke as possible.

The Reparto Sperimentale di Volo (RSV) is based at Pratica di mare. Several aircraft of the RSV were parked on the static. One of them is this MB.339CD with serial MM55078/RS-29.

Another aircraft that belongs to the RSV is this Tornado, serial MMX7040/RS-01.

34 Vipers (four of them are non-flyable) are delivered to the Italian Air Force under a program known as "Peace Caesar". The F-16's entered service to replace the aging fleet of Tornado and the F-104 fighters. The aircraft are leased for five years with a five-year follow-on option. this F-16A-ADF, with serial MM7238, belongs to 5° Stormo based at Cervia.

The Italian Navy diplayed a four-ship AV-8B+ demo. This example, serial MM7218-12, was photographed on the flightline.

Recently added to the inventory of the Marina. This EH.101 Merlin, the MM81489/2-10 is seen here returning on the flightline after it's display.

The Italian Army displayed their Agusta A.129 at Pratica di Mare. This exmple, the MM81426/E.I.-956 is an A.129CBT-EES-1 provided with a nose mounted gun. An A.129 without a gun was parked on the staticline.

An unique helicopter in Europe is the HH-3F Pelican. 85° Gruppo SAR, 15° iStormo is responsible for the SAR-duties in the region. Two of their Pelicans flew a display together. Note the Arabic titles this Pelican with serial MM80984/15-13.

Two Turkish RF-4E Phantoms came to Pratica di Mare. Both aircraft belong to 173 Filo. This example, the 69-7526, is seen here parked on the static.

One of the non-Italian participants during the show was this Swiss F/A-18C Hornet, with serial J-5011.

A civil contribution was made by testpilots of the Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company, diplaying the AB.139 helicopter. The AB.139, I-ROCS, is seen here in take off.