Across Italy in an S-64F Skycrane| Biella-Pisa-Rome-Naples-Lamezia-Catania-Sicily | I-CFAH May 2023

Opportunities usually open when least expected. We don't hesitate if it be a main gearbox replacement in Manitoba or a ferry flight across Italy. On May 4th, a request was made to assist with moving I-CFAH "Orso Bruno" from it's winter fire base in Biella-Cerrione Airport to its summer base near the city of Catania on the island of Sicily. Winds were calm and the forecast looked promising with some broken ceilings expected South of Lamezia.
We departed Biella piloted by Giovanni Piccininno and Luca Ghiosso enroute to Lamezia for the night with a 1.55 ETE - Pisa, 1.45 ETE - Roma, 1.00 ETE - Napoli, and a 1.52 ETE to Lamezia. May 5th we would continue to our final destination in Sigonella with a 1.25 ETE and total flight time of 6.77 hours.
Approximately 700 miles of a combination of shoreline and hills, vast rice fields, Pisa and the leaning tower, the The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, Rome, I-CFAM on a training flight during refuel, Mt. Vesuvio, Amalfi - Salerno coast line of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and crossing the Sicilian channel with snow covered Mt. Etna greeting us in the distance.
It was an more overwhelming experience with scenery to capture on the Canon 5D MKII and revisit again and share.

[@mikethespike6304]

What a beautiful day for a flight !~ wow miss those days and I want to say a big HI to Lucca !! From Mike Fossen or ae Motorbikemike !!

[@mikethespike6304]

and of course another fine job by Brian D.

[@Noname-xi7xi]

Nice video, great job......💪💪💪