(4 September, 2015) – An Italian will be in charge of the Virgin Galactic’s space plane. Nicola Pecile, from Fagagna (in the province of Udine – Friuli), will fly the aircraft that, according to Richard Branson’s ambitious project, will offer 500 suborbital fly a year to particularly wealthy customers. Pecile has a degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Rome, and has trained as a test pilot experimenter – and as a fighter pilot – with the Italian Air Force. With 5400 flight hours on 132 different models of helicopters and planes, Pecile has received four of the highest honors for a pilot in the US: the Distinguished Graduate as best official; the Top Stick Pilot for best student in the results achieved in individual flights; Top Formation Pilot for best student in discipline during close formation and tactics; and the Commander’s Trophy as best student for military qualities and aptitude for flight and command. (Red)
