Viterbo Aviazione Dell'Esercito center.

The AvEs center of Viterbo hosts the training unit of the Italian Army Aviation, it also hosts all of the heavy CH-47, the Special Operation squadron and the only fixed wing squadron of the AvEs.
E.I.453 AB412 'Creso'
The Aviation Army Training Centetr it's composed by three squadrons. The first one it's focused on the basic training and it's equipped with the old AB206. Once finished the basic training the young pilots depending on the final assignements move to the following squadrons. Someone goes to the AB-205/NH-90 Group for the transportation unit training, others will go to the combat training group flying with A-129CBT. They all flight on the close by range along the Appenini that allow them to fly low level missions along tactical flight using the enviroment as hideouts. The italian pilots are not the only ones flying around since the training center at Viterbo it's used also by foreing armed forces. In order to increase the training capabilities there are also a couple of three-dimensional flight simulator, expecially for the AB-205. Due to the fact that all the pilot pass through the training unit of Viterbo you could see most of the Army inventory, from the AB205 to the A109, but also AB212 and A129CBT, but you will also find some rare Army Helicopters, like the AB-412 "Creso". When we visited the training center in 2007 the build up of the new unit for the NH-90TTH was already well ahead, and there were already two of the medium helicopter flying around.
On the other side f the road there is the 1st Aviation Army Regiment "Antares". It's composed by 6 different squadron, the 111st and the 112nd Squadron, part of the 11th Sqd Group flying the CH-47C. Besides those two there is the 26th Special Operations Sqd Group composed by the 426th Sq on CH-47C and the 526th Sq on AB212 and AB412. Finally there is the 28th Sqd Group flying the Do228 for the ACTL Sq, and the P180E flying for the ACTR Sq. The first unit fly with the biggest helicopter of the Italian Army for troops movements and forward operating base supply. The second unit focus on the Special Operation Supports, that means that this Unit it's the first one to be sent in theatry like happens in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it's also port of the long running UNIFIL operation in Lebanon. They train in both day and night long range infiltration flying as long as possible,patrolling remote areas ready to engage enemies. Finally there is the small fixed wing unit with 3 Dornier and P180 used for FOB supply and VIP transportation.
E.I.464

Back

Text and Photo by Marco Sommacal

.
AB-204B EI-220 mm80320 AB-205 Simulator AB-205 Simulator AB-205 Simulator Savings AB206C EI-555 mm80616
A129CBT EI-945 mm81415 A129CBT EI-945 mm81415 A109CM EI-857 mm81234 A129CBT EI-945 mm81415 A129CBT EI-945 mm81415
A129CBT EI-945 mm81415 AB-205A EI-347 mm80718 AB-205A EI-347 mm80718 AB212 EI-416 mm81499 AB212 EI-416 mm81499
AB412 EI-453 mm81196 AB412 EI-453 mm81196 AB412 EI-453 mm81196 Italian Army AB-205A EI-347 mm80718
AB-205A EI-347 mm80718 A109CM EI-857 mm81234 AB412 EI-453 mm81196 Italian Army mm80573
AB205A-1 EI-346 mm80717 CH-47C EI-829 mm81230 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-829 mm81230 & EI-834 mm81439
CH-47C EI-829 mm81230 & EI-834 mm81439 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231
CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-830 mm81231
CH-47C EI-830 mm81231 CH-47C EI-833 mm81387 CH-47C CH-47C CH-47C EI-816 mm80838
CH-47C EI-818 mm80840 CH-47C EI-818 mm80840 CH-47C CH-47C AB412 EI-451 mm81194
CH-47C EI-831 mm81232 AB412 EI-464 mm81355 CH-47C EI-835 mm81440 AB412 EI-464 mm81355 AB412 EI-464 mm81355
AB412 EI-464 mm81355 AB412 EI-464 mm81355 AB412 EI-464 mm81355
Tipo di Velivolo Matricola Codice Gruppo Stormo Base
AB206C-1 mm80616 E.I.555   Army Training Center Viterbo
AB205A mm80717 E.I.346   Army Training Center Viterbo
AB205A mm80718 E.I.347   Army Training Center Viterbo
AB212 mm81499 E.I.416   Army Training Center Viterbo
AB412 mm81194

E.I.451

   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
AB412 'Creso' mm81196 E.I.453   Army Training Center Viterbo
AB412 mm81355 E.I.464   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
CH-47C mm80838 E.I.816   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
CH-47C mm80840 E.I.818   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
CH-47C mm81230 E.I.829   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
CH-47C mm81231 E.I.830   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
CH-47C mm81232 E.I.831   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
CH-47C mm81387 E.I.833   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
CH-47C mm81439 E.I.834   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
CH-47C mm81440 E.I.835   1st Regiment "Antares" Viterbo
A109CM mm81234 E.I.857   Army Training Center Viterbo
A129CBT mm81415 E.I.945   Army Training Center Viterbo