The skies over Naples-Capodichino are showing these days the training of USAF (United States Air Force) personnel on the fourth G.222 aircraft for the reconstituted Afghan Air Force – ANAAC (Afghanistan National Army Air Corps).
In September 2009 Alenia Aeronautica, through its [subsidiary] company Alenia North America, delivered the first of the 18 tactical transport aircraft G.222s to the U.S. Air Force in compliance with the contract signed in September 2008 by Alenia North America with the U.S. Air Force.
The eighteen aircraft ordered by USAF will undergo a total avionics updating, will be brought-back to 0-flight hours and provided with a self-defence system, while two airplanes, in the VIP configuration, will be used for the transport of the Afghan national authorities.
Furthermore, Alenia North America has been awarded a contract, in October 2009, by the U.S. Air Force for the training of the G.222 crews and for the formation, in direct maintenance, of the U.S. Air Advisors for the Afghan Air Force.
The fourth aircraft is presently without the Afghan markings which will be affixed, as for the other airplanes already delivered, a few days before the aircraft leaves the production site Alenia Aeronautica in Capodichino (Naples).
At present the G.222 shows Afghan roundels and the serial number 74092.
The training activities will go on until mid-April and immediately after the G.222 will leave, with signs obliterated, to reach its customer, USAF.
