Patrulla Águila
| Patrulla Águila | |
|---|---|
|
Patrulla Águila in the 2007 Gijón Airshow. | |
| Active | 1985–present |
| Country |
 Spain |
| Branch |
 Spanish Air Force |
| Role | Aerobatic flight demonstration team |
| Garrison/HQ | San Javier Air Base |
| Colors | Red, yellow, white |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
12 Casa C-101 Aviojets Only 7 fly in airshows |
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Patrulla Águila (Spanish for "Eagle Patrol"), formed 4 July 1985, is the aerobatic demonstration team of the Spanish Air Force, based at San Javier airbase near La Manga, in the Murcia region of Spain. Flying 7 Casa C-101 Aviojets, they are the only team to use yellow smoke and are also known for their formation landings.
History
During the '50s and '60s Spain had various aerobatic teams which preceded the creation of the Patrulla Águila. These were:
- Basic Air School of Matacán (Salamanca) Patrol, founded in 1954 with 6 T-6 Texan aircraft.
- Jet Training Air School Patrol, Talavera la Real Air Base (Badajoz), established in 1955 with T-33 Shooting Stars planes.
- Ascua Patrol Manises Air Base (Valencia) established in 1956 (officially in 1958 became the Patrulla Ascua) equipped with F-86 Sabre.
- Los Llanos Air Base Patrol (Albacete) in 1980 with Mirage F-1.
The 4 June 1985, Patrulla Águila made its first training whose pilots were selected among the teachers of the Air Force Academy and equipped with the new built Casa C-101 Aviojet.
Gallery
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Patrulla Águila's Aviojet taxiing at Radom Air Show 2005
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Patrulla Águila at RIAT 2005
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Patrulla Águila at RIAT 2005
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Patrulla Águila at RIAT 2005
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Patrulla Águila at Air 04, Payerne, Switzerland
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Patrulla Águila at the 2014 Rome International Air Show
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Patrulla Águila on display
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Patrulla Águila CASA C-101
Members of the patrol
| Piloto[1] | Puesto 2011 |
|---|---|
| Miguel Puertas (Granada) | Chief of the patrol |
| Ignacio Sánchez-Heredero (Madrid) | Leader |
| César Piquer (Valencia) | Right Point |
| Antonio Monge (Madrid) | Left Point |
| Pedro M. Monleón (Valencia) | Dog |
| Antonio Gutiérrez (Granada) | Solo |
| Moisés Roca (Murcia) | Right pair |
| Mariano M. Navarro (Murcia) | Left pair |
| Alberto Bello | Reserve |
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The patrol is composed of seven pilots (plus a chief in land and extensive support personnel) who occupy seven demarcations of different names. These are:
- Leader or Eagle 1: in the standard formation of the patrol, the leader occupies the head, the other extending to the sides and behind him. The leader directs the whole the patrol in flight.
- Points right and left or Eagles 2 and 3 : the points go behind and on both sides of the leader. Each has a mission to provide stability to the corresponding wing.
- Dog or Eagle 4: the' 'dog' 'flies behind the leader and of the points, forming the four one diamond.
- Solo or Eagle 5: the one in charge of the maneuvers that put more to the limit the characteristics of the aircraft.
- Pair right and left or Eagles 6 and 7 make up the sides of the formation. They are responsible for the maneuvers that require more precision and coordination.
Trivia
- To mark the 25th anniversary of the Patrulla Águila the aviojet #5 was painted.
- The aviojet #5 has got stickers that say "World Champion 2010", which were given by the Netherlands Air Force, who planned to put them on their planes but finally it was Spain who won the World Cup.
World Champion 2010 sticker.
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References
- ↑ Ministerio de Defensa de España. "Patrulla Águila > Los pilotos" (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 December 2011.
External links
- Patrulla Águila Website (In Spanish but with English available)
