SMALL HELI, BIG IMPACT
No other aircraft symbolizes rotary training in Italy as strongly as the single-turbine- engine, five-bladed TH-500B. Derived from the Hughes NH-500, 50 airframes of the Italian-built Breda Nardi version entered service from 1990 onward. The type gradually replaced the aging Agusta- Bell 47J and Agusta-Bell 204B. In 2023, the fleet accumulated more than 200,000 flight hours. Currently, the entire fleet flies around 4,000 hours annually.
On a daily basis, wing instructors take future pilots into the skies. Due to their inexperience, they dance through the air. “Our call sign is ‘Samba’ since a novice pilot’s maneuvers are characterized by quick and rapid movements similar to the dance,” Fiorini explained.
Despite all this “dancing,” there have been relatively few major incidents involving the TH-500B fleet. One airframe was lost in Kosovo on Jan. 18, 2001. Another crashed during a simulated crash landing near Arnara on March 13, 2008. The third lost aircraft was involved in a hard landing in Ripi on Nov. 14, 2017. Looking back, one could say the overall record is one of safety
and dependability. Fiorini emphasizes the helicopter type’s strengths: reliability, agility, and suitability for basic training. “Accidents were almost always linked to human factors, sometimes reinforced by environmental conditions. The ‘500 has proven to be a highly reliable aircraft,” he said.
Operational availability of the TH-500B fleet remains high, with about 85% of the assigned helicopters ready for daily use. Maintenance is shared between air force personnel and industry partners, with major overhauls outsourced to companies such as Leonardo and, more recently, Mecaer Aviation Group.
Frosinone Air Base is located between valleys and beautiful ancient towns.
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