Real Thaw 2010

Following the 2009 edition, the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) has organized once more the Real Thaw military exercise. This is an international exercise focused on Close Air Support (CAS) and modern air combate operations in a scenario which closely resembles Afghanistan. In the 2010 edition a total of 1,000 military and 50 aicraft from Portugal, Belgium, Dennamark, Spain, Lituania and United States (along with a NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft) have been involved in the day and night missions.

The Brazilian website Defesa Net has published a report convering the exercise. You can check the full article in the following adress:

http://www.defesanet.com.br/10_02/100202_05_realthaw2010.htm

Pedro Monteiro

New Link: Tally Ho!

Following an increasing number of Portuguese blogs focusing military aviation and aviation photography, Sérgio Trindade, a regular presence in air shows and oppen days, has created a new one for sharing his photos and videos. A regular visit is highly recommended.

http://baseaerea.blogspot.com

Pedro Monteiro

Real Thaw 09

The Brazilian website Defesa Net has published an article covering the military exercise Real Thaw, organized by the Portuguese Air Force, with the participation of units from Dennamark and Spain. The article also focus the new Litening AT targeting pod which has just entered in service with the MLU fleet.

You can check the full article on the following adress:
http://www.defesanet.com.br/nato/pt_real_thaw.htm

Pedro Monteiro

New link: Cannon Two

Jorge Ruivo is a gifted photographer and a truelly passioned enthusiast of military aviation. With 30 years of memories and photos to share, he has recently created a personal blog. The firts report could not be better: the impressive description and photographic report of his first flight on a F-16B fighter. Bravo Zulu, Jorge! A blog to visit regulary.

http://cannontwo.blogspot.com/

Pedro Monteiro

Coimbra Airshow 2008

Here are some photographs that I have taken during the weekend on another edition of the Coimbra Airshow (report of the 2007 edition)

Despite the reduced presence of the Portuguese Air Force due to participation of its acrobatic teams in the Air Force Day (Azores) and Royal International Air Tatoo (United Kingdom), the airshow had the presence of several civilian aircraft, such as the Smoke Wings acrobatic Team or the aircrafts from the Aerofénix.

A classical and impressive Boeing-Stearman N62TS from the Aerofénix museum [click to enlarge].

The take-off of another aircraft from museum: in this case, one Havilland CT-120 Chipmunk [click to enlarge].

One of the few military aicraft present was this Dornier Do-27 of the Air Force museum [click to enlarge].

Pedro Monteiro

Air spotting in Monte Real

Last week I have made a spotting session in the air base of Monte Real, where the Portuguese F-16 fleet is based. In the photos is possible to identify both F-16 OCU from the 201 Sqn. "Falcões" and F-16 MLU from the 301 Sqn. "Jaguares".

This spotting session follows a report, made in last March, about the F-16 fleet along with my Juan Carlos Pando (you can check his website here)

One of the most modern fighters from the fleet is this F-16BM in the M5 configuration. The aircraft belongs to the 301 Sqn. "Jaguares" which operates all the MLU fleet [click to enlarge].

The end of an afternoon mission for a F-16BM from the 301 Sqn. "Jaguares" [click to enlarge].

A low pass of a F-16A OCU from the 201 Sqn. "Falcões" with a low-viz scheme [click to enlarge].

Pedro Monteiro

Helicopters over Beja

Anually, the 552 Squadron "Zangões" organizes a meeting which brings to Beja, south of Portugal, different generations of helicopter pilots. This year, the meeting has happened in May 17th.
As usually, pilots and members from other Portuguese helicopter units were invited to the event. This is the case of the 751 Sqn. (EH-101 Merlin) and the EHM (Super Lynx, Navy). In addition, aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters were invited to be present.

The 552 Sqn. operates the Alouette III fleet. In service with the Portuguese Air Force since 1963, the Alouette III has already reached the impressive mark of 300.000 flying hours. Besides, tis amazing machine is used by the acrobatic team “Rotores de Portugal” (Blades of Portugal).

One Alouette III seconds before the end of another flight. The 552 Sqn. is one of the most active squadrons in the Air Force. For several reasons. First, because all the military pilots destined to the helicopters – including those from the Army and the Navy – make their training with the "Zangões". Secondly, because the squadron is involved in several missions, such as joint exercises with the Army [click to enlarge].

These three helicopters belong to the acrobatic team “Rotores de Portugal” (Blades of Portugal). They have returned to the airshows in 2005 and now has three Alouette III with their own paint scheme [click to enlarge].

One SA-330 Puma was present in the exposition. The Puma was replaced by the new EH-101 Merlin in Search and Rescue (SAR) missions [click to enlarge].

Pedro Monteiro

The portuguese F-16 fleet

Monte Real is the home of the portuguese F-16 fleet. The F-16 OCU fleet, received in 1994, is operated by the 201 Squadron "Falcões". The other unit is the 301 Squadron "Jaguares", which operates the modern F-16 MLU fleet.
Both units are often present in national and international military exercises. More recently, they took part in the NATO Air Defense Mission "Baltics Air Policing 07 (November-December 2007) 3000 kilometers away from Monte Real. There, they have assured the vigilance, control and reaction to a potential hostile act to the sovereignty of the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), inclunding with aicrafts in Quick Reaction Alert (QRA).

A helmet of a special very special "pilot" of the Portuguese Air Force. In fact, this helmet was offered to the President of the Republic during his visit to Monte Real [click to enlarge].

A F-16B OCU from the 201 Sqn. ready for another mission with the RNLAF fighters [click to enlarge].

The impressive take-off of a RNLAF F-16MLU fighter with full after-burner. During our visit, the RNLAF squadrons 322 and 323 were at Monte Real training with the portuguese Vipers [click to enlarge].


I have visited the two squadrons with Juan Carlos Pando (you can check his website here) last February as part of an article for the magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo.

Pedro Monteiro

Coimbra Air Show 2007

Here are some photographs that I have taken during the weekend on the airshow. The airshow had some flaws, like the impossibility of using the oposite side of the runway during the afternoon - because of that, everyone, including the press, had to take the photgraphs against the sunlight with every disadvantage this situation implies. In any case, it is good to see an airshow in the city where I live since I usually have to make long trips in order to see one.

A soviet-build Yakovlev Yak-52 - which is a primary trainer - made a great exhibition on the saturday afternoon. The portuguese pilot pushed the aicraft to its limits and impressed the public.

The two Alpha-Jet from the Asas de Portugal. The two pilots were also present in the aerodrome for an autograph session.

A C-212 Aviocar made flights with children during the sunday. In the next year the Portuguese Air Force will receive the first C-295Ms which will substitute this aircraft.

A classical and impressive Boeing-Stearman N62TS from the Aerofénix museum.

A Allouette III with the paint scheme of the Rotores de Portugal. But, contrary to what was announced, they did not make an exhibition during the airshow.

Pedro Monteiro

Spotter's day at Beja

Last friday, on 29th June, the Portuguese Air Force organized, for the first time, a spotter's day. This gave to the portuguese community of plane spotters the rare opportunity of take some photographs inside of a military base - in this case, Beja's air base, located in the south of the country. Actually, it was the first time that this occured, since the spotter's day organized in 2002 was part of the Nato Tiger Meet military exercise - which also took place in Beja.

The Portuguese Air Force must be congratulated for the excellent reception gaven to the spotters: during all the day, we were moved from one area to the another in order to assure the best conditions for photograph the aircraft (angles, sun light, etc.); we were able to visit the front line of every squadron and assist to the preparation of some missions with Alpha-Jet and Epsilon aircrafts; finally, along with the Alouette III helicopters and Alpha-Jet and Epsilon aircrafts assigned to the 552, 101 and 103 Sqd. based in Beja, the air base recieved the rare visit of a C-130 transport aircraft, a P-3P maritime patrol aircraft and two F-16 A/B OCU fighters. In addition, the acrobatic teams Asas de Portugal (Alpha-Jet) e Rotores de Portugal (Alouette III) made their train for the exhibition of saturday.

For instance, this was the begining of a new relationship between the Air Force and the portuguese plane spotters. As an aviaton enthusiast, I must give my acknowledge for the great day that I had at Beja - it was one of the best visits that I ever made to an air base, including those that I made as a reporter.

A F-16B OCU (15118) from 201 Squadron "Falcões", based at Monte Real, arrives to Beja after a flight with the winner of a television contest. A monoplace (F-16 A, 15112, with low-viz marks) also took part of this special mission.

The impressive demonstration of the Asas de Portugal, here flying their two Alpha-Jet A in a close formation and at high speed.

A Alpha-Jet A aircraft arrives from a train mission. The Alpha-Jet fleet is now assigned to 103 Squadron "Caracóis", whose instructors are also pilots of the acrobatic team Asas de Portugal. The other operator, the 301 Squadron "Jaguares", is currently based in Monte Real where operates the modern F-16 MLU.

A Epsilon from 101 Squadron "Roncos" with a Alpha-Jet in the background. Currently, they are the backbone of the trainning fleet of the Portuguese Air Force.

The arrival of another Alpha-Jet A, painted with the old wrap around scheme.

The portuguese spotters captured every angle possible of this Alpha-Jet from the Asas de Portugal. Although it was the first time that a spotter's day occured in Portugal, the number of photographers and enthusiasts was very significant, inclunding some well-known portuguese spotters such as Luís Rosa, Jorge Ruivo, Álvaro Gonçalves, Luís Gonçalves, Pedro Becken, Floriano Morgado along with others.

Pedro Monteiro