Our week with Italian Army helicopter regiments began here – at Viterbo. A “super base” in more ways than one, with numerous units and helicopters present to provide training and carry out a wide range of missions.

We started with a visit to the museum, run by the Army Aviation Association. This was not our first visit, but it reinforced just how impressive a collection it is – tracing the history of aviation in support of the Army from the balloons of 1884 to the present day. The museum charts the transition from observation roles to transporting troops and being part of the attack force through ‘tank busters’ such as the Mangusta. There is much to see, especially the fixed-wing planes and helicopters from 1953 to the present day.

The museum is currently located within the Army complex but hopes to relocate in the future to provide more space and enable the public to more easily learn about the work done in the past and the variety of roles performed today.
To learn more about the museum and its collection, see our 2023 article here.

There is so much that could be written about Viterbo because of the wide range of activities conducted here. I will keep this report brief, partly because some aspects of the work undertaken here are covered at other locations we visited, which are the subject of separate reports. Additionally, our companions on this tour, from Aviation Press, have produced a detailed report on their website. Perhaps, after reading this article, you will be inspired to visit theirs as well!

Several regiments are based at Viterbo. The first we visited was 1 Gruppo Squadroni Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Auriga’, which serves as an operational conversion unit for all of the Army’s helicopter types. The focus here is on training with the lighter helicopters, starting with the AB 206. This helicopter, along with the AB 205 (still widely used by regiments across Italy), is a real “hands-on” machine. It allows pilots to develop the basic skills of flying and navigation, which can then be applied to the Army’s more modern helicopters.

However, the more modern the helicopter, the more complex its systems. The pilot's role increasingly involves operating and monitoring systems rather than purely flying. For instance, starting a career on the CH-47F or UH-90 exposes pilots to sophisticated systems that reduce workload and enable a focus on mission-specific tasks. In contrast, flying the AB 206 or AB 205 requires constant manual input, limiting what else a pilot can concentrate on.

As with other locations, the helicopters at Viterbo were in excellent condition, despite their age—a testament to the quality of maintenance and care. The AB 206s flying around were pristine.

Most of the units are located on the other side of Viterbo. We visited 28 Gruppo Squadroni dell’Esercito ‘Tucano’, the Army’s sole fixed-wing unit, which operates the Dornier 228 from Viterbo. Although there are three aircraft in the fleet, none were present during our visit. These aircraft transport senior personnel and officials on Army-related business and handle general communication duties. During our time there, we saw one Dornier 228 take off and another land, demonstrating their busy schedule.

Fortunately, we also had the chance to see the Piaggio P.180 Avanti, typically used for VIP duties from Rome-Ciampino. We were able to examine it closely and speak with the pilot and ground crew.

Next, we visited 3 Reggimento Elicotteri per Operazioni Speciali ‘Aldebaran’. As the name suggests, this is a special operations unit flying the CH-47, NH-90, and AB 412. While details about their work are understandably restricted, it was clear they are highly trained and ready for action.

Our subsequent visit was to 1 Reggimento Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Antares’, which flies both the CH-47C and the more advanced CH-47F models. The F model represents a significant step forward from the Charlie model, requiring pilots to focus more on systems management to maximise the helicopter’s capabilities. The Army has 16 of these new Chinooks, each capable of carrying up to 50 troops.

We also had the opportunity to meet 4 Gruppo ‘Scorpione’, responsible for the technical and logistical support at Viterbo. Captains Rubea Monti and Brandimorti outlined their work and gave us a tour of the technical rooms where equipment is inspected.

Maintenance here goes far beyond airframes and engines. It includes checking radios, countermeasure systems, sensors, and warning displays—essentially all the systems that keep the helicopters operational. Supplies are carefully managed in their warehouse to maintain efficiency without stockpiling unnecessarily.

In conclusion, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who made this visit possible and to the personnel from the various regiments who showed us their work and explained what they do. Thank you all.

AviationReporting.co.uk would like to thank the MOD Attache Rome, our hosts Capt. Davide Di Giuseppe of CAAE, LTC Rocco Rossini of 1° Reggimento Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Antares’, and LTC Michele Celeste of 3° Reggimento Elicotteri Operazioni Speciali ‘Aldebaran’.

Author: Peter Nelson

Photography: Peter Nelson & Mark Forest