Monday, April 26, 2010

Italian navy, air force officials visit F-35 training wing

Italian navy, air force officials visit F-35 training wing: "Representatives from the Italian air force and navy visited the 33rd Fighter Wing here April 20 in an effort to check the progress of the first F-35 Lightning II integrated training center and learn more about this new coalition venture.

'Things are moving, and this program is becoming real,' said Rear Admiral Paolo Treu, the Italian director of naval aviation department and commander of the Italian fleet air arm. 'I'm grateful to Eglin (Air Force Base) for giving us this opportunity. A lot of work has been done. A lot of work has to be done.'

Italy's military is one of several partner nations that will be training joint strike fighter pilots and maintainers at the 33rd FW."