Casarsa della Delizia says goodbye to the venerable AB205A
On 17 November 2020, the last three (airworthy) Agusta-Bell AB205As left the 5° Reggimento AVES Rigel at Casarsa della Delizia (PN), an airbase of the Aviazione dell’Esercito (Italian Army Air Force) near Pordenone.
This iconic helicopter with its characteristic sound, served the Aviazione dell’Esercito (Italian Army Air Force) for so long with the first examples delivered already in 1966. With a total of 106 examples delivered, it served not only in Italy, but also in many humanitarian and war-related countries like Kosovo, Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq.
In 1976 the AB205A played a significant humanitarian role in the nearby Friuli earthquake, also known in Italy as Terremoto del Friuli (Friulian earthquake). It took place on 6 May 1976 with a moment magnitude of 6.5 with the shock occurred in the Friuli region in northeast Italy and close by Casarsa della Delizia (PN). 990 people were killed, up to about 3,000 were injured, and more than 157,000 were left homeless.
In this month before Christmas, special attention for its role as ‘Babbocottero’! The Aviazione dell'Esercito has a long lasting tradition towards Christmas: bringing presents to children with the 'Babbocottero' of Santa Claus. The 'Babbocottero' is a helicopter, often adorned with Christmas-style stickers. It replaces Santa Clause's traditional 'sled & reindeer' and often an AB205A was used.
Agusta-Bell AB205A MM80548/E.I.296, MM80720/E.I.349 and MM80725/E.I.354 made some fly pasts at Rivolto, Campoformido, La Comina, Maniago, Aviano, and Bologna before their last landing at Viterbo where they will by used by the local Centro Addestrativo Aviazione dell'Esercito (AVES).
Photos: Johan Mulder