For almost 30 years the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian Air Force)'s 15° Stormo (Wing), which specialises in search and rescue (SAR), has had the same organisation and aircraft - but recently there have been major changes in its structure and fleet. The origins of the new 15° Stormo lie in a October 23, 2008 crash involving Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican MM8098V15-10' of the 84° Centro SAR at Brindisi in southern Italy, following the detachment of a main rotor blade. All eight crew members died. The accident was dramatic evidence of the obsolescence of the HH-3F fleet - deliveries of which had started in 1977 - and forced the AMI to concentrate on improving the type's serviceability.
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