The docu-film I Cacciatori del Cielo was the first program of the evening: Rai1 celebrated the centenary of the air force together with almost 3 and a half million viewers.

Yesterday March 29th Rai 1 he aired The Sky Hunters. The docu-film, which celebrated the centenary of the air force, was the most viewed of March 29. Nearly 3.5 million spectators saw Giuseppe Fiorello in the role of Francesco Baracca, the Italian air force ace during the First World War. Here are the comments from the manufacturers and the Air Force.
Great audience success for I cacciatori del cielo followed last night on Rai1 by almost 3 and a half million viewers (3,447,333) equal to an 18.33% share, numbers that place it as the first program of the evening. An excellent result for the docu-film, directed by Mario Vitale, starring Giuseppe Fiorello in the role of Francesco Baracca, to celebrate the Centenary of the establishment of the Air Force, produced by Gloria Giorgianni for Anele with Luce Cinecittà, in collaboration with Rai Documentari, with the patronage and participation of the Ministry of Defence, Air Force and Defense Services, with the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Sky hunters: for the hundred years of the Air Force, Rai tells the story of the first aviators
“The excellent result of I Cacciatori del Cielo, one of the most watched documentary films ever on Rai, demonstrates the great space that exists for this kind of story that hybridises documentary language, repertoire and fiction, and is the sign of a revolution in progress” declares Gloria Giorgianni, producer and founder of Anele. “I hope that Rai will continue to invest more and more resources and dedicate more and more space to this type of project which manages to obtain better performing results, also in terms of quality-cost ratio, than other fiction or entertainment products“.
“We are very satisfied with a result that represents an important record for a documentary film co-produced by Luce Cinecittà, and which lives on the images of our precious Luce Archive” comments Chiara Sbarigia, President of Cinecittà. “A result that rewards an editorial and cultural policy with which we try every day to bring the treasure of our images to the widest possible public, even with works, such as I cacciatori del cielo, which manage to combine historical memory and emotions, and to transmit them to everyone the spectators“.
“Yesterday’s excellent ratings reward Rai Documentari in the dual challenge of carrying out its public service mission without renouncing the objective of promoting innovation in the generalist television offer – declares Fabrizio Zappi, Director of Rai Documentari. “The hunters of the sky is a happy example of this path, because it has been able to mix different narrative languages with originality, allowing the viewer to feel part of a shared memory and the collective history of our country“.
Sky hunters: the true story of Francesco Baracca, the aviator played by Giuseppe Fiorello
“We are really happy with these first positive feedbacks, with the enthusiasm with which this beautiful film about a formidable Italian, an absolute legend for those who love flying, was received by the public”, commented the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, air force general Luca Goretti. “The women and men of the Air Force, one hundred years after its establishment, still carry in their hearts and minds the same values and courage with which the ace of aviation aces flew the Italian skies during the First World War which inspired the birth of the Armed Forces.The means, the technologies, the international scenarios have changed, but the spirit with which we continue to defend the country has not changed, with the coat of arms of the Prancing Horse by Francesco Baracca on the tails of our hunting”.