Arctic, the Air Force celebrates 100 years of Umberto Nobile's airship Norge expedition

A century after one of the most daring feats in the history of flight, the Air Force celebrated the centenary of the airship Norge expedition. It was 10 April 1926 when the N-1 airship, with engineer Umberto Nobile on board at the head of an international crew including explorers Roald Amundsen and Lincoln Ellsworth, left its base at Ciampino (Rome) to reach - after a 13,000 km journey across Europe and the Arctic Ocean - the Svalbard Islands and from there make the first overflight of the North Pole. To honour this anniversary, the Italian Air Force organised the conference 'The Flight of Norge 1926: Noble at the North Pole' in Rome on 14 April. The event provided an opportunity to outline the historical role of the Air Force and Defence in polar expeditions and scientific research activities in the Arctic and Antarctic areas, highlighting its technological and institutional contribution, in the presence of personalities from the military, political and scientific worlds. The work was developed on four thematic panels, with contributions from academics, journalists and international experts.

The event is part of a two-day series of scientific, cultural and popular initiatives organised in collaboration between the Italian Air Force, the National Research Council and the Prada Group as part of the Sea beyond project, conducted in partnership with Unesco's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to promote ocean education on a global scale. The common objective is to enhance the legacy of General Nobile and raise awareness of the history and polar explorations of which Italia has been a protagonist over the last 100 years, interweaving memory and present thanks to the dialogue between historical documentation, testimonies and contemporary narratives. The occasion also represented a significant moment to raise public awareness on the issues of preserving fragile ecosystems.

Representing the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Squadron General Antonio Conserva, the meeting was opened by the Chief of the 5th 'Communication' Department of the Air Force General Staff, Air Brigadier General Urbano Floreani, who emphasised in his introduction that 'The Norge feat delivers a message that spans time: technology, expertise and the ability to work together lead to goals that would be unimaginable on their own. One hundred years ago, when the Air Force was still in its infancy, the ingenuity of Umberto Nobile - who designed and transformed the N-1 into a state-of-the-art flying laboratory - already embodied those values that have become the identity heritage of our Armed Force. That legacy the Air Force carries on every day, with the same technical rigour and spirit of service. The landing strip in Antarctica is an example of this, and it speaks Italian: it is there, in the silent work of our technicians, maintainers and aeronautical engineers, that the continuity between yesterday's pioneering spirit and today's operational commitment can be measured'.

This was followed by an address of greeting from the Deputy Head of Mission of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Rome, Erling Hoem, who emphasised that '100 years later, the Norge voyage continues to speak to us not only for its historical value, but for the message it conveys: that of mutual trust, knowledge sharing and cooperation between different countries, cultures and disciplines. A message that remains deeply relevant, especially in today's world'.

The proceedings opened with the first panel - 'The North Pole Challenge: The History of an Endeavour' - dedicated to the historical and international dimension of the conquest of the North Pole. Speakers included British journalist and essayist Mark Piesing and Professor Steinar Aas, historian at the North University of Norway, who restored to the audience the epic scope of a feat that, a century ago, represented the most extraordinary test of aviation technology and the exploratory spirit of the time. The panel was moderated by Second Lieutenant Michele Palumbo of the Air Force's Experimental Flight Department.