Asas de Portugal
Encyclopedia
The Asas De Portugal is a flight demonstration team
created in 1977 integrated with Esquadra 103 (103 Squadron) of the Portuguese Air Force
. They are Portugal
's national aerobatic flying team and fly two ex-Luftwaffe
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
. Their colour scheme is very dramatic and colorful and displays can often be compared to the syncro pair from the Patrouille de France
.
The demonstration patrol that operated the Cessna T-37C for 13 years while integrated with the 102 Squadron Panchos executed a total of 186 demonstrations, of which 40 were executed in international airshows. The restructure of the PoAF in the 1990s lead to the phase-out of the T-37 and to the interruption of the team's activities.
In 1997 the team was reactivated, being integrated with the 103 Squadron Caracóis and equipped with Alpha Jet
aircraft, having a team of seven officer aviator pilots (PILAV) and a maintenance team. The first public appearance with the Alpha Jet was on June 27, 1997, at the commemorations of the 45th PoAF anniversary in Sintra
.
In 1998, the display patrol was deactivated for logistics reasons.
By occasion of the 50th PoAF anniversary, in 2001, the responsibility to prepare an Alpha Jet aircraft flight demonstration to integrate the commemorations was given to the 103 Squadron. This resulted in the creation of a two-aircraft display team that represented Portugal with a 16-minute sequence of maneuvers in those commemorations, leading to the idea and plan of expanding the display.
In 2005, the Asas de Portugal were definitively reactivated, being once again integrated with the 103 Squadron, based at Beja Air Base – BA11.
The team was deactivated in 2010, before the start of the airshow season. Unofficially due to an undisclosed accident during a very low level pass.
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
created in 1977 integrated with Esquadra 103 (103 Squadron) of the Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
. They are Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's national aerobatic flying team and fly two ex-Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced trainer aircraft co-manufactured by Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France.- Origins :...
. Their colour scheme is very dramatic and colorful and displays can often be compared to the syncro pair from the Patrouille de France
Patrouille de France
The Patrouille Acrobatique de France , also known as the Patrouille de France or PAF, is the precision aerobatic demonstration team of the French Air Force. Originating in 1931, it is one of the world's oldest and most skilled demonstration teams...
.
History
In 1977, the aerobatic team Asas de Portugal was created by order of the Air Force Chief of Staff (CEMFA), with the objective to represent the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) at the International Air Tattoo air festival, being this new aerobatics team created 25 years later after having already existed previously two teams of this type during the 1950s — the Dragões (Dragons) and the São Jorge (Saint George) aerobatic patrols.The demonstration patrol that operated the Cessna T-37C for 13 years while integrated with the 102 Squadron Panchos executed a total of 186 demonstrations, of which 40 were executed in international airshows. The restructure of the PoAF in the 1990s lead to the phase-out of the T-37 and to the interruption of the team's activities.
In 1997 the team was reactivated, being integrated with the 103 Squadron Caracóis and equipped with Alpha Jet
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced trainer aircraft co-manufactured by Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France.- Origins :...
aircraft, having a team of seven officer aviator pilots (PILAV) and a maintenance team. The first public appearance with the Alpha Jet was on June 27, 1997, at the commemorations of the 45th PoAF anniversary in Sintra
Sintra
Sintra is a town within the municipality of Sintra in the Grande Lisboa subregion of Portugal. Owing to its 19th century Romantic architecture and landscapes, becoming a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the urbanized suburbs and capital of Lisbon.In addition to...
.
In 1998, the display patrol was deactivated for logistics reasons.
By occasion of the 50th PoAF anniversary, in 2001, the responsibility to prepare an Alpha Jet aircraft flight demonstration to integrate the commemorations was given to the 103 Squadron. This resulted in the creation of a two-aircraft display team that represented Portugal with a 16-minute sequence of maneuvers in those commemorations, leading to the idea and plan of expanding the display.
In 2005, the Asas de Portugal were definitively reactivated, being once again integrated with the 103 Squadron, based at Beja Air Base – BA11.
The team was deactivated in 2010, before the start of the airshow season. Unofficially due to an undisclosed accident during a very low level pass.
External links
- Asas de Portugal official website
- Recodando os Asas de Portugal - I Parte (Remembering the Asas de Portugal - Part I), Mais Alto September/October 2002 issue
- Recordando os Asas de Portugal - II Parte (Remembering the Asas de Portugal - Part II), Mais Alto November/December 2002 issue
- Asas de Portugal - The return of the Alpha Jet Acrobatic Patrol, Nuno Martins, January 22, 2003
- Asas de Portugal - 30 Anos, photographic gallery of the Asas de Portugal 30th year anniversary