The We Fly Team, the only flying team composed of disabled pilots on micro lights in the world, will be taking part in this year’s Malta International Airshow which will be held on 25 and 26 September at the Malta International Airport.
The We Fly Team is a representative of the Baroni Rotti, the Italian Federation of Disabled Pilots. It was created in 2005 upon the request of the Italian Federation of Disabled Pilots. They wanted to have someone displaying their activity at national airshows. With two airplanes, pilots Alessandro Paleri and Fulvio Gamba started training and after about one month presented a simple display at Insubria Airshow.
Today they fly with three Texan-type airplanes, presenting 10-minute displays, with Voltige Aerial Manoeuvres, a kind of synchronised display with three planes. Before starting the display the disabled but very able pilots, show people how they are able to prepare and manoeuvre the aircraft without any help. Their concept behind their displays is to show everybody that disabled persons can do practically anything, even flying an aircraft.
Aircraft coming from the Netherlands, France, the UK, Italy, the United States, Germany and Malta will be participating in this year’s air show. The static display will be set up in Park 2 and the flying display will be held over the Malta International Airport. A spokesperson for the Malta Aviation Society and the Malta International Airport, which are organising the event jointly, said there would be airplanes from all the spectrum of military aircraft, from transporters to bombers.
Aeroplane enthusiasts should also expect Canadair’s CL-415 water bomber, which is specifically used in woodland fire fighting. Sorem s.r.l. Company is the official operator of the Canadair CL-415 amphibious aircraft of the Italian Civil Protection Agency. Currently, Sorem’s fire fighting fleet comprises of 13 Canadair aircraft. The aircraft fills up water from lakes, rivers or sea surfaces (usually the water area nearest to the fire) at about 6,000 litres every 12 seconds, and attains the operative zone; then continues to furnish and drop until the fire is under control.
Another attraction at the air show will be the RAF Hawk Display. The special display paint scheme celebrates 50 years since Number 4 Flying Training School (4FTS) moved to their base, RAF Valley on Anglesey. 4FTS is the only RAF Advanced flying training school for fast-jet pilots and is thus the sole source of pilots for front line Operational Conversion Units.
The 50th anniversary of 4FTS in 2010 marks a new era of fast-jet training with the introduction of the new Hawk T2 and the establishment of the UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS) headquarters at RAF Valley in a joint initiative between the Royal Air Force and Ascent Flight Training.
The RAF Tucano Display Team, is also participating. The Tucano T1 is a modified version of the Brazilian Embraer EMB-312 Tucano aircraft and is built under licence by Shorts of Belfast. Having replaced the Jet Provost in RAF service, the Tucano is operated primarily from No. 1 Flying Training School at RAF Linton-On-Ouse, to provide basic fast jet flying training to RAF and RN student pilots and basic WSO (Weapon Systems Officer) training to all potential RAF WSOs. The tandem cockpit layout of the Tucano prepares the student pilot for progression onto the Hawk T1 advanced flying trainer and then onto fast-jet aircraft on the front line.
Tickets will be at €10 while adults and persons with disability will be admitted for free.