Patrulla Águila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Patrulla Águila |
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Badge of the Patrulla Águila
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| Active | 1985–present |
| Country |  Spain |
| Branch | Spanish Air and Space Force |
| Role | Aerobatic flight demonstration team |
| Garrison/HQ | San Javier Air Base |
| Colors | Red, yellow, white |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | 12 Casa C-101 Aviojet |
The Patrulla Águila (which means "Eagle Patrol" in Spanish) is a special team of pilots from the Spanish Air and Space Force. They perform amazing air shows! This team was created on July 4, 1985.
They are based at San Javier Air Base in Spain. This base is also where new Air Force officers learn to fly. The Patrulla Águila flies seven Casa C-101 Aviojet planes. They are famous for being the only team to use yellow smoke during their displays. They are also known for their cool formation landings.
Contents
History of the Eagle Patrol
Before the Patrulla Águila was formed, other Spanish aerobatic teams performed air shows. These teams flew different types of planes.
Some of these earlier teams included:
- The Basic Air School of Matacán Patrol, started in 1954. They flew six T-6 Texan planes.
- The Jet Training Air School Patrol, from Talavera la Real Air Base, started in 1955. They used T-33 Shooting Star jets.
- The Ascua Patrol from Manises Air Base (Valencia), started in 1956. They flew F-86 Sabre jets.
- A patrol from Los Llanos Air Base (Albacete), which flew Mirage F-1 jets in 1980.
The Patrulla Águila made its first training flight on June 4, 1985. The pilots for this new team were chosen from the teachers at the Air Force Academy. They were given the Casa C-101 Aviojet planes to fly.
Meet the Team Members
The Patrulla Águila team has seven main pilots, plus a chief and other support staff. Each pilot has a special role in the team's amazing formations.
| Pilot | Position |
|---|---|
| Miguel Puertas (Granada) | Chief of the team |
| Ignacio Sánchez-Heredero (Madrid) | Leader (Eagle 1) |
| César Piquer (Valencia) | Right Point (Eagle 2) |
| Antonio Monge (Madrid) | Left Point (Eagle 3) |
| Pedro M. Monleón (Valencia) | Dog (Eagle 4) |
| Antonio Gutiérrez (Granada) | Solo (Eagle 5) |
| Moisés Roca (Murcia) | Right Pair (Eagle 6) |
| Mariano M. Navarro (Murcia) | Left Pair (Eagle 7) |
| Alberto Bello (Cadiz) | Reserve |
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Here are the roles of the pilots:
- Leader (Eagle 1): This pilot flies at the very front of the formation. The leader guides the entire team during their displays.
- Points (Eagles 2 and 3): These pilots fly behind and to the sides of the leader. They help keep the formation tight and precise.
- Dog (Eagle 4): The 'dog' pilot flies behind the leader and the points. Together, these four planes often form a diamond shape.
- Solo (Eagle 5): This pilot performs exciting maneuvers that show off what the aircraft can do on its own.
- Pair (Eagles 6 and 7): These two pilots fly on the outer sides of the formation. They are in charge of complex maneuvers that need a lot of teamwork and exact timing.
Interesting Facts and Tributes
- To celebrate the Patrulla Águila's 25th anniversary, one of their planes, Aviojet #5, was painted with a special design.
- Aviojet #5 also has stickers that say "World Champion 2010." These stickers were originally made by the Netherlands Air Force for their own planes. However, Spain won the football World Cup that year, so the stickers ended up on a Spanish plane!
In January 2022, a C-101 plane from the Patrulla Águila was placed at the entrance of the Ciudad del Aire neighborhood in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid. This was done to honor Commander Eduardo Garvalena, a pilot who sadly passed away on February 27, 2020, while performing his duties. The plane has his name on its side and the number five on its tail.
Incidents
- On February 27, 2020, Commander Eduardo Fermín Garvalena was killed when his jet, number 5, crashed into the ocean near La Manga.
See also
In Spanish: Patrulla Águila para niños
