Frecce Tricolori are one of Italy's national symbols, famous for emitting plumes of the three colours from the Italian flag. Italy's air force established the 313th Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico, better known as the 'Frecce Tricolori' at the Rivolto air base on 1 March 1961.

The 60th anniversary this week marks the inaugural Frecce Tricolori flight of six North American F-86 Sabers from Grosseto to Rivolto, near Udine. The Frecce Tricolori comprise 10 aircraft, nine flying in close formation plus a soloist, and since 1982 the planes used are the two-seater fighter-trainer Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN.