For phase III/b, students advance to the Leonardo UH-139. This ‘139 was in use with the Centro di Aviazione of the Guardia di Finanza (Italian Customs Police).
JETS AND HELICOPTERS
Col. Fiorini’s career continued in several key leadership roles at Lecce, with responsibilities in flight safety investigation and a position as air task force commander with the Italian national contingent in Kuwait. Since July 2023, he has been in command of the 72nd Stormo, where he continues to instruct on the TH-500B and AW-139.
The colonel is candid on his transition from frontline fighters to training helicopters. “For my personal ego, flying jets is all about the thrill – speed, g-forces, high altitudes, and the feeling of being everywhere in the sky,” he said. “Flying helicopters, though, is a completely different game. It takes a whole new mindset. At first, dealing
50 Sept/Oct 2025
with the aerodynamics and flight control feels really tough and demanding until you start getting the hang of it. I’ll never forget my very first flight in the TH-500B and thinking to myself, ‘I’m never going to make it!’”
His dual perspective from operating both jets and helicopters provides a unique lens. “For me, the helicopter generates different emotions, mainly visually based. This is due to the helicopter’s operating area, proximity to the ground and its flexible usage. The flight envelope is truly different. With the helicopter, one is contained, while the envelope of a jet is wide and large. However, as a pilot and professional that is focused on his assigned role and mission task, both fighters
and helicopters are equally attractive to me and must be respected for what they are meant to do.”
MUCH IN LITTLE
Over the past 35 years, some 2,000 pilots have been successfully trained on the type. “The main strength of the wing is summarized in its motto, ‘Multum in Parvo’ (Much in Little),” the commanding officer explained. “Although relatively small, the school is capable of independently meeting the training needs in the rotary-wing sector, not only for the Italian Air Force, but also for other armed forces and state corps.” These include trainees for the Italian Army, the Carabinieri and the Guardia di
Finanza. In addition, pilots are trained for domestic security purposes, for example for the Polizia di Stato.
“This remarkable capability of our motto should not be mistaken for a weakness,” the colonel added. “As training demands continue to rise, both human and material resources are evolving to keep pace. Expectations remain high for those who have consistently achieved much with limited means. While the quality of instruction offered to students is still unmatched, the real challenge today lies in striking the right balance between managing available resources and responding swiftly to the growing demand for pilot training.”
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