Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori Credit: Air.Show Tour

Italian Air Force jets will paint the skies over Newport with the colors of Italy’s flag today, commemorating the 500th anniversary of explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano’s landing in 1524.

The Frecce Tricolori, the official aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force, will perform a historic flyover featuring nine jets trailing red, white and green smoke. This marks the final appearance of their 2024 North American Tour, organized by Air Dot Show.

Scheduled to begin at 11:30 am, the flyover will include multiple passes over Newport’s iconic landmarks, including Fort Adams, the Naval War College and the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge. The jets are expected to approach the city from the south, subject to air traffic and weather conditions.

This event celebrates not only Verrazzano’s legacy but also the rich Italian heritage woven into Rhode Island’s cultural fabric. The Frecce Tricolori’s visit to the United States and Canada is their first since 1992, adding to the significance of the occasion.

The team operates a fleet of Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN, two-seat fighter-trainer aircraft, showcasing Italian aviation prowess and precision.

Following the Newport flyover, the team will meet with Governor Dan McKee at Atlantic Aviation in Warwick at 1 pm. The governor will be joined by North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi, Italo-American Club of Rhode Island President George Lazzareschi Jr., and Past President Anthony Napolitano to greet the Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori led by Lt. Colonel Massimiliano Salvatore.

This gathering on the tarmac serves as a celebration of Italian culture and history in Rhode Island, underscoring the state’s strong ties to its Italian-American community.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...

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3 Comments

  1. 5 w’s of journalism are:
    Who,
    What,
    Where,
    When,
    and Why.
    Reread your story about the Italian Air Force coming to Newport. The “when” is missing. Clearly an editor is at fault and surely you know this basic fact.

  2. Thanks for the comment. The first paragraph states when (today), the byline states the day the story was published (August 26), the third paragraph states what time (11:30 am), the Facebook embed also has those details.

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