Italian Air Force Bids Farewell to the HH-212A

General Goretti, during his speech, wanted to underline the importance of this particular event: "Today we proudly salute a machine that made the history of the Air Force, but above all the personnel who made this helicopter exceptional".

Referring then to all the crews and personnel who operated on this helicopter, he highlighted: "When there is a flood, an emergency, when someone needs to be rescued, even in bad weather, you are always there unconditionally, even putting your life at risk, because you are going to save someone else's life."

"And we do this" he continued "as the Armed Forces because we are convinced that, when we need to save one of our colleagues or fellow citizens, we intimately feel it as our duty and not because we are obliged by law." The Head of Sma then concluded by saying: "The machines change, the people change, but the spirit remains: that winning spirit that distinguishes the Air Force and was demonstrated during the Centenary. Passion, strength, teamwork. Be proud of it

Over the course of these four decades, the helicopter has been the protagonist, together with the Air Force crews, in numerous operational missions beyond national borders (Afghanistan) and in the national field, participating in search and rescue missions in particular events that have affected the civilian population, such as the floods in Piedmont, that of Sarno and that in Friuli or even following the earthquake that hit the island of Ischia.

Version after version, the helicopter then produced under the Bell license in Italy by Agusta (now Leonardo) was used during the day, at night and in all weather conditions, with night vision goggles and with numerous configurations also suitable for combat thanks to protections for the crew and defensive armament and infrared guided anti-missile countermeasures: in this configuration the HH-212A was also deployed with the ISAF contingent in Afghanistan.