During the show– featuring some of the finest acrobatic teams in the world –  the Frecce performed within a virtual parallelepipedon which keeps into account altitude of the clouds, distance from the mountains, wind speed and direction, still being constantly  in the crowd’s view. The role of the “soloist” is to perform virtuoso breathtakingly low flights while the Frecce are kept busy in turning around and reorganizing for the next figure (All pictures taken in Rivolto’s Air Base between September 4th and 6th, 2015).

Frecce Tricolori, “Cardioide and Separation From The Soloist”. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/9 ISO 400

Frecce Tricolori, the soloist Pony n.10 performing his applauded “crazy flight”. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/5.6 ISO 1250

“Royal Jordanian Falcons” on 4 single propeller Extra 300. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/7.1 ISO 400

The “Schneider” of the Royal Saudi Hawks. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/1600 sec ƒ/5.6 ISO 800

Royal Saudi Hawks. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/13 ISO 1250

Two F5 fighters of the Turk Yildizlari (Stars) crossing in front of the tribune. Nikon D810, 116 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/1600 sec ƒ/8 ISO 800

Two F5 fighters of the Turk Yildizlari (Stars) crossing over the tribune. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/1600 sec ƒ/6.3 ISO 400

A Spad XIII similar to the biplane of WW1 Italian ace pilot Francesco Baracca. Nikon D810, 360 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/5.6 ISO 400

Two Eurofighter of the Italian Air Force. Nikon D810, 360 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/6.3 ISO 400

Mig 29 of the Polish Air Force showing off its muscles. Nikon D810, 390 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/1600 sec ƒ/7.1 ISO 400

Aude Lemordant on her single propeller Extra 330 SC. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/6.3 ISO 400

Aude Lemordant on her single propeller Extra 330 SC. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/5.5 ISO 400

The Breitling Wingwalkers in action. Nikon D810, 135 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/5.6 ISO 400

The Breitling Wingwalkers in action. Nikon D810, 135 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/8 ISO 800

Two F5 of the Patrouille de Suisse at high speed, mirroring each others with their landing gear extended. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/5.6 ISO 400

The Eurofighter of the Reparto Sperimentale Volo in flight over the crowd. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/5.6 ISO 400

Frecce Tricolori, “Big Wing And Return Of The Soloist”. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/2000 sec ƒ/5.6 ISO 1250

Le esibizioni delle Frecce si svolgono all’interno di un parallelepipedo virtuale che deve tener conto dell’altitudine delle nubi, della distanza dalle montagne e della direzione e velocità del vento, pur restando sempre interamente in vista del pubblico. La presenza del solista permette di coprire i tempi morti in cui le Frecce sono impegnate a virare e a riorganizzarsi per la figura successiva, con virtuosismi a bassa quota che contribuiscono a tenere la platea col fiato sospeso. La più famosa di queste variazioni del Pony n.10 è il “volo folle”, dal noi ribattezzato “cavallo pazzo” (Tutte le immagini scattate nella Base Aerea di Rivolto, Udine, nel settembre 2015 dal 4 al 6).