Asas de Portugal
| Asas de Portugal | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Country: |
 Portugal
|
| Currently used aircraft type: | Alpha Jet |
| Sponsor: | Portuguese Air Force |
| Base airfield: | Beja Airbase No. 11 airport |
| Founding: | 1977 |
| Colours: | White, red, green |
The Asas de Portugal ( Wings of Portugal ) are an aerobatic team that was founded in 1977 and is integrated into the Esquadra 103 of the Portuguese Air Force . It is Portugal's national aerobatic team and flies two Dassault-Breguet / Dornier Alpha jets from the former Air Force fleet .
history
In 1977, the Asas de Portugal were founded on behalf of the Chief of Air Force (CEMFA) with the aim of representing the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) at the Royal International Air Tattoo. This was the third aerobatic team that the Portuguese Air Force had formed, after two teams from the 1950s - the Dragões (Dragons) and the São Jorge (Saint George).
The Asas de Portugal flew the Cessna T-37 in 102 Squadron "Panchos" for their first 13 years .
The only fatal accident in the team's history happened on December 9, 1990: A T-37C suffered a wing structure failure during a training flight, the pilot José Magalhães da Costa was killed in the crash. The accident led to a fleet-wide inspection of all aircraft; microcracks due to material fatigue were found in five T-37s. Repairs were not considered economical. This conclusion, along with a restructuring of the Portuguese Air Force in the 1990s, resulted in the retirement of the T-37 and an interruption in the team's activities.
In 1997 the team was reactivated, integrated into the 103 Squadron "Caracóis" and equipped with Dassault-Breguet / Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft, with seven pilots and a maintenance team. The first public appearance with the Alpha Jet was on June 27, 1997 in Sintra on the occasion of the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the Portuguese Air Force. In 1998 the team was deactivated for logistical reasons.
To mark the 50th birthday of the Portuguese Air Force in 2001, an alpha jet flight demonstration was given by the 103 Squadron for the commemorations. This led to the creation of a second aerobatic team, representing Portugal with a 16-minute flight program. In 2005, the Asas de Portugal were definitely reactivated and once again integrated into the 103rd Squadron at Beja Air Base. The team was deactivated again in 2010 before the start of the airshow season. In 2014, the Asas de Portugal were involved in Air14 in Payerne with two alphajets.
See also
Web links
- Asas de Portugal official website
- Recodando os Asas de Portugal - I Parte (Memory of the Asas de Portugal - Part I)
- Recordando os Asas de Portugal - Part II (Remembering the Asas de Portugal - Part II)
- Asas de Portugal - Return of the Alpha Jet Acrobatic Team , Nuno Martins
- Asas de Portugal - 30 Anos , photos Asas de Portugal on the 30th anniversary