Pininfarina Designs the Livery for the New Aircraft of the National Aerobatic Team of the Italian Air Force

Istrana, September 12, 2024 – A new era begins for the Frecce Tricolori, an internationally recognized symbol of excellence from the Italian Air Force, which will soon be equipped with the M-346 aircraft, a jewel of Italian industry created by Leonardo, tailored to the specific needs of the National Aerobatic Team. Enhancing the iconic status of this new star of the air shows is the livery, designed by Pininfarina’s designers, yet another ambassador of Italian excellence. With this collaboration, three symbols of "Made in Italy" come together to carry the Italian Tricolore across the skies of the world.

The new livery was unveiled today during the ceremony marking the return of the Frecce Tricolori from their “North America Tour 2024,” attended by the Vice President Senate Gian Marco Centinaio, the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force General Luca Goretti, the Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone and numerous other officials. The event took place at the Istrana military airport, home to the 51st Fighter Wing "Ferruccio Serafini."

The livery, “Designed by Pininfarina,” emphasizes the beauty and fluidity of the Frecce Tricolori’s flight. The result is a three-dimensional design that ensures, during the aircraft’s maneuvers, a recognizable graphic element is always visible, conveying a sense of speed and dynamism to the audience. It is a perfect combination of elegance and power, traits that are characteristic of both Pininfarina and the National Aerobatic Team, embodying hard work, ingenuity, and teamwork, the core values of the Italian Air Force. This synergy between Pininfarina, renowned for its innovative and refined design, and the Frecce Tricolori, which were entered into the Guinness World Records in 2022, is thus a tribute to Italian excellence.

“It is a great honor to present the new Frecce Tricolori livery designed by Pininfarina,” said Silvio Angori, Vice Chairman and CEO of Pininfarina. “This project is inspired by what we have defined as the Renaissance of the Tricolore, an idea that embodies our national pride and celebrates the symbol that represents us around the world. The Frecce Tricolori are not only an emblem of technical skill and precision but also of passion and dedication. With this livery, we celebrate their spirit and commitment, creating a design that will accompany their breathtaking performances for decades. We thank the Italian Air Force for the trust they have placed in Pininfarina and its creativity, which for almost 95 years has continued to represent Italian design worldwide.”

The prestigious collaboration between Pininfarina and the Italian Air Force, for the Frecce Tricolori project, has been captured in a video showcasing the “behind the scenes” of the work done by Pininfarina’s designers. From the initial phases of creative research to the 1:1 scale final design rendered in immersive 3D virtual reality, the video was premiered during the Istrana event and is available from today on all communication channels.