Recently, the Spanish press enthusiastically celebrated the world record set by the Patrulla Acrobática Paracaidista del Ejército del Aire (Papea), which performed a jump with a flag of 1,350 square meters. This event aroused admiration and pride, but there is a fundamental detail that has been overlooked: the true world record holder is Italian.
The (false) Spanish record
On May 15, 2024, the Papea performed a spectacular jump in the skies of Murcia, carrying a flag of 1,350 square meters and weighing 60 kilos. The protagonists of this feat were Military Paratroopers Christian Moltó and Miguel Antonio Gómez, who executed a complex "mirror jump" maneuver after intense training. This type of maneuver, which requires great experience, has been part of Papea's exhibitions for eight years, but never before had it been performed with a flag of such dimensions.
The true record. All Italian.
Despite the remarkable Spanish feat, it is important to remember that the true world record for the largest flag used in a parachute jump belongs to Italy.
On December 1, 2019, Colonel Paratrooper Paolo Filippini, an officer of the Folgore, now retired, set a record with an Italian flag of 1,600 square meters and weighing 120 kilos. The jump took place over the Ampugnano airport, in the province of Siena.
Filippini, who has over 16,000 jumps to his credit, is a multiple world and Italian champion in sport parachuting. His feat was not only a demonstration of technical skill but also a symbol of national pride.
The importance of the Record
The world's largest flag launched by parachute by Paolo Filippini is a record that deserves to be remembered and celebrated. It is an example of how Italy has a long tradition of excellence in sport parachuting and how our athletes continue to proudly represent our country worldwide.
In conclusion, while the recent feat of the Papea is undoubtedly impressive, it is essential to recognize the true world record holder: Colonel Paratrooper Paolo Filippini and his tricolor flag of 1,600 square meters. A record that must not be forgotten and should serve as a reminder to inspire new achievements in the world of parachuting.
The precedent: the Guardia Civil and the fastest patrol boat in the world
In 2023, the Spanish Guardia Civil announced the construction of their new patrol boat "Río Flumen", presented by the Spanish media as the fastest sea police unit in the world, capable of reaching 60 knots. However, this claim turned out to be exaggerated and inaccurate.
In Italy, there is a patrol boat that has held the true speed record in European waters for years. The Vedetta Velocissima V.6000 of the Guardia di Finanza, in service since 2001, exceeds 70 knots, making it the true queen of fast patrol boats. With a maximum speed that can exceed 70 knots, this Italian patrol boat is an example of advanced engineering and excellence in maritime operations for over 20 years.
Just a few months after the announcement of the "Río Flumen", several Spanish newspapers acknowledged the error, confirming that the Italian patrol boat V.6000 is the true queen of the sea in terms of performance.
Will they acknowledge the mistake this time too? We shall see...
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