Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Leonardo C-27J Spartan (coded RS-50), from the Italian Air Force Experimental Squadron (Reparto Sperimentale Volo) based at Pratica di Mare airbase, Italy, displaying on the Friday of The Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 at RAF Fairford, England.
For this aerobatic demonstration by an aircraft which you wouldn’t expect to see performing such manoeuvres, consistently flown over multiple sequences, this C-27J Spartan from the Italian Air Force crewed by Maj. Ettore Pasini, Maj. Francesco Buscemi, CMSgt. Giuseppe Civica, their display over the three days of the show won The Sir Douglas Bader Trophy for the Best Individual Flying Display.
The Italian Air Force was the first country to begin operating the twin-turboprop C-27J medium transport, in 2006. It has since largely superseded the Aeritalia C-222 (previously G222) on which the Spartan was based, and taken part in varied multi-national operations. The display features many manoeuvres not usually seen performed by an airlift aircraft, which requires three crew members working in unison to achieve.
In October 2006, Italy accepted delivery of the first C-27J of an initial batch of 12 aircraft and in January 2007, the first aircraft was delivered to the 46a Brigata Aerea, in Pisa. From 12 September 2008 to 27 January 2009, a pair of Italian Air Force C-27Js were deployed to Afghanistan to contribute to NATO in-theatre airlift operations. In December 2013, an Italian C-27J was deployed to the Philippines to participate in international humanitarian relief operations in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.
The Italian Air Force is also the launch customer for a special mission variant of the C-27J, named 'Praetorian'. in a configuration tailored for the Italian Air Force and equipped with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) equipment and roll-on, roll-off mission systems consoles. Italy is the first European nation to operate such an aircraft.
In November 2020, Leonardo launched the C-27J Next Generation programme with new equipment, systems and aerodynamic solutions to improve operating efficiency and enhance performance. The New Generation features comprehensive new avionics to comply with the Performance Based Navigation international standard to operate in civil air space without limitations and to enhance interoperability in tactical scenarios, while new winglets contribute to improved climb performance and increase the maximum take off weight by up to 1,000 kg.
Other operators of the C27J Spartan are The Royal Australian Air Force, Bulgarian Air Force, Chadian Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Kenyan Air Force, Lithuanian Air Force, Royal Moroccan Air Force, Mexican Air Force, Peruvian Air Force, Romanian Air Force, Slovak Air Force, Slovenian Air Force, Turkmen Air Force, United States Coast Guard, United States Army Special Operations Command and the Zambian Air Force.
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © StephenKeeler (HightFlight) All Rights Reserved
Leonardo C-27J Spartan (coded RS-50), from the Italian Air Force Experimental Squadron (Reparto Sperimentale Volo) based at Pratica di Mare airbase, Italy, displaying on the Friday of The Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 at RAF Fairford, England.
For this aerobatic demonstration by an aircraft which you wouldn’t expect to see performing such manoeuvres, consistently flown over multiple sequences, this C-27J Spartan from the Italian Air Force crewed by Maj. Ettore Pasini, Maj. Francesco Buscemi, CMSgt. Giuseppe Civica, their display over the three days of the show won The Sir Douglas Bader Trophy for the Best Individual Flying Display.
The Italian Air Force was the first country to begin operating the twin-turboprop C-27J medium transport, in 2006. It has since largely superseded the Aeritalia C-222 (previously G222) on which the Spartan was based, and taken part in varied multi-national operations. The display features many manoeuvres not usually seen performed by an airlift aircraft, which requires three crew members working in unison to achieve.
In October 2006, Italy accepted delivery of the first C-27J of an initial batch of 12 aircraft and in January 2007, the first aircraft was delivered to the 46a Brigata Aerea, in Pisa. From 12 September 2008 to 27 January 2009, a pair of Italian Air Force C-27Js were deployed to Afghanistan to contribute to NATO in-theatre airlift operations. In December 2013, an Italian C-27J was deployed to the Philippines to participate in international humanitarian relief operations in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.
The Italian Air Force is also the launch customer for a special mission variant of the C-27J, named 'Praetorian'. in a configuration tailored for the Italian Air Force and equipped with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) equipment and roll-on, roll-off mission systems consoles. Italy is the first European nation to operate such an aircraft.
In November 2020, Leonardo launched the C-27J Next Generation programme with new equipment, systems and aerodynamic solutions to improve operating efficiency and enhance performance. The New Generation features comprehensive new avionics to comply with the Performance Based Navigation international standard to operate in civil air space without limitations and to enhance interoperability in tactical scenarios, while new winglets contribute to improved climb performance and increase the maximum take off weight by up to 1,000 kg.
Other operators of the C27J Spartan are The Royal Australian Air Force, Bulgarian Air Force, Chadian Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Kenyan Air Force, Lithuanian Air Force, Royal Moroccan Air Force, Mexican Air Force, Peruvian Air Force, Romanian Air Force, Slovak Air Force, Slovenian Air Force, Turkmen Air Force, United States Coast Guard, United States Army Special Operations Command and the Zambian Air Force.
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © StephenKeeler (HightFlight) All Rights Reserved
