2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione"

The 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione" (Italian: 2° Reggimento Sostegno Aviazione dell'Esercito "Orione") is an active unit of the Italian Army based at Borgo Panigale Airport near Bologna in Emilia Romagna. The regiment is part of the Italian army's army aviation and operationally assigned to the Army Aviation Support Command.[1] The regiment provides 2nd-line maintenance, upgrade and test services for the A129D Mangusta attack helicopters of the 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel" and 7th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega".[2]

2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione"
2° Reggimento Sostegno Aviazione dell'Esercito "Orione"
Regimental coat of arms
Active1 September 1996 - today
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
Part ofArmy Aviation Support Command
Garrison/HQBorgo Panigale Airport
Motto(s)"Sic itur ad astra"
Anniversaries10 May 1953 - Founding of the Italian Army Aviation
Insignia
Army Aviation gorget patches

History

The regiment was formed on 1 September 1996 by elevating the existing 2nd Army Aviation Repairs Unit to regiment without changing the unit's size or composition. The unit traces its roots back to the 2nd Light Army Aviation Repairs Unit which was raised on 1 March 1957. The unit was granted a war flag by the President of the Italian Republic on 12 December 1989 and on 2 June 1993 it dropped "Light" from its name. Since 2012 the regiment is part of the Army Aviation Support Command.[2][3]

Naming

Since the 1975 army reform Italian army aviation units are named for celestial objects:[4] support regiments are numbered with a single digit and named for one of the 88 modern constellations.[4] As in 1996 the 2nd Army Aviation Repairs Unit was supporting the 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel", which was named for Rigel, the brightest star in the Orion (Italian: Orione) constellation, the army decided to name the new 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione" to affirm the two regiments' relationship.

As the regiment was founded in the city of Bologna the regiment's coats of arms fourth quarter depicts Bologna's coat of arms.

Current Structure

As of 2019 the 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione" consists of:[5]

  • 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione", at Borgo Panigale Airport
    • Headquarters Unit
    • Command and Logistic Support Squadron
    • Maintenance Unit
      • 1st Repair Squadron
      • 2nd Repair Squadron
      • 3rd Repair Squadron
      • Technical and Test Section
      • Air-materiel Supply Section
      • External Work Section
    • Flight Squadron (AB206 helicopters)

See also

References
  1. "2° Reggimento Sostegno Aviazione dell'Esercito "Orione"". Italian Army. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  2. "2° Reggimento Sostegno Aviazione dell'Esercito "Orione" - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  3. "Reparti Aves". Associazione Nazionale Aviazione Esercito. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  4. Cerbo, Giovanni (1996). L'Aviazione dell'Esercito - Dalle origini ai giorni nostri. Rome: Rivista Militare. p. 128. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  5. "2° Reggimento Sostegno Aviazione dell'Esercito "Orione"". Ministero della Difesa. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
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