The "Frecce tricolori" are the aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force. It was created on 1 March 1961 as a permanent group for the training Air Force pilots in air acrobatics.
With ten aircraft, nine in close formation and a soloist, they are the world's largest acrobatics patrol, and their flight schedule, comprising about twenty acrobatics and about half an hour, made them the most famous in the world. It is one of national symbols of Italy.
The "Frecce tricolori" are characterized by their aerial acrobatics and by the smoke with the colors of the Italian flag.
The livery of the MB-339PAN used by the Group is given by the characteristic tricolor band that crosses the side of the plane against a savoy blue background. The airplane's abdomen is light gray while the formation numbers are yellow stickers.
The colored smoke is generated by dispersion, and is composed of vaseline oil to which non-polluting pigments are added. The escape of this compound occurs through a small tube placed in the rear exhaust of the airplane.
