The Italian aerobatic daredevils Frecce Tricolori will be streaking across the skies over the airport for the first time in seven years, as part of the 19th edition of the Malta International Airshow.
The announcement was made yesterday at a press conference by The Malta Aviation Society at the airport.
The static display, which will take place at MIA near Ħal Farruġ Road between September 24 and 25, will see an array of different aircraft, from diminutive microlight planes to Hercules transport behemoths.
Society president Joe Ciliberti said this will be a year of several firsts for the air show. For the first time aerobatic teams from not one, but two countries will be mesmerising onlookers with their gravity-defying stunts. The Frecce Tricolori, the largest aerobatic flying team in the world with 10 aircraft, will be joined by the Swiss Air Force PC-7 team, made up of nine planes.
Italian Ambassador Efisio Luigi Marras said his country was proud to be taking part after an absence of seven years. The aerobatic team’s participation, he added, was symbolic of strong ties between the two countries.
In total eight countries will be taking part, including, for the first time, the Polish navy with a M-28 Bryza patrol aircraft. Mr Ciliberti said Poland had a historical link with Malta, since Polish pilots saw action in Malta during World War II.
Another rare attraction will be a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight DC3 Dakota from World War II. The Dakota was made famous during the Berlin Airlift in 1945.
The Armed Forces of Malta Air Wing will be in the show with an aircraft of its own, the newly-purchased BE 200 Kingair. The AFM will also be displaying its Alouette and AB212 helicopters, while conducting rescue demonstrations.
Aerobatic displays always carry an element of risk, as the death of a Red Arrows pilot in a crash at Bournemouth Airshow two weeks ago proved. However, Mr Ciliberti said although the accident was tragic, the fact that the Red Arrows had already taken to the air again showed there was no grave cause for concern in terms of the safety of people on the ground.
Asked if the regular emergency landings of foreign fighter jets low on fuel after missions in Libya would have any effect on the air show, Mr Ciliberti joked that he hoped no unexpected visitors would turn up. Next year will be a special one for the air show, since it will be the 20th one, as well as the 70th anniversary of the end of Malta’s involvement in World War II. Although Mr Ciliberti said it would be themed to mark the occasion, he would not give away any of the surprises in store.
This year, visitors will not be allowed to park in Ħal-Farruġ road for safety reasons.