Spirit of Benavente

Benavente is a airfield located outside Benavente village at approximately 70 km from capital city Lisbon, in Portugal. It has two paved dirt runways, and the facilities include; bar, flight school, maintenance hangar, fuel depots, storage hangers and several leisure spaces.

It is known to be one of the biggest airfields of its kind (ultralight aviation) in all Iberic peninsula and it is also known for the excellent airmanship amongst the aviation community, and well as the sympathy with which they welcome visitors.

Recently I had the opportunity to pay another visit to this magnificent place, this time for the commemoration of the 4st anniversary of Portugal spotters association.

It was a very pleasant day with lots of movements and countless aircraft to be photographed. Also a surprise was the appearance of; two aerobatic aircraft, a crop duster and a fire bomber! Wow! Unfortunately my photos of some of this aircraft were ruined L!

Without further due I leave you with some of the moments captured by the camera.

Thank you for your visit,

Paulo Antunes

Click on the image to enlarge and for better quality.

Skyranger

Jabiru J400

Sportcruiser

Esquall

TL-3000

Lineup of some of the aircraft present

Tecnam P2002 Sierra

Tecnam

Aerospool WT-9 Dynamic

"Spirit of Benavente" Skyranger

Bristell NG5

BRM Land Africa

Aerospool WT-9 Dynamic

Pitts Special S-2

Pitts Special S-2

Aerospool WT-9 Dynamic, in the right seat my good friend Sérgio Trindade

Pitts Special S-2 flown by Cmde. Luis Garção

Spirit of Benavente in a low pass

My wife at the controls under the supervision of Cmde. Fernando Fernandes

Touch and go

Low pass of this Dynamic

Tecnam

Banking for the photo

Three ship formation

Autogiro with my wife in the back.

Again with a filter. Thats me in the back!

Unexpected surprise at the end of the day

Alverca Air Museum

Outside Alverca air base, ICAO code LPAR, we find the air museum, it is one of three institutions across the country where one may visit the Portuguese aviation history. Mostly dedicated to military aviation, the museum is splendid, with a diverse and interesting collection of both, fighter, attack, training and support aircraft. Personally what has amazed me the most is the absolutely fantastic collection of engines, ejector seats, weapons and miniatures. It’s a visit that I recommend to all passionate for aviation in particular.

Here are some of the photographs taken during this particular visit.

Thank you for your visit.

Paulo Antunes

Please click in the image to enlarge and for better quality



Outside park





De Havilland Tiger Mouth with a Harvard T-6 in the back.



Jodel and Piper Grasshoper hanging from the roof.

Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk

Lineup of perfectly restored and preserved engines. Impressive!

Le Rhone 80hp, 1916 engine from the Caudron G III aircraft.

 In 1922 a Fairey F III-D MkII named "Lusitânia" and another named "Pátria" crewed by navegator Sacadura Cabral and pilot Admiral Gago Coutinho made the south atlantic crossing, from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, in a journey that lasted 79 days.  It´s one of the most known Portuguese aviation feats.

Ejector seats, from several aircraft including the T-33, T-38, Fiat G-91, F-104, A-7 and Alfa Jet.

Bombs away!!!

North American F-86F Saber´s served from 1956 to 1980.

Fiat G-91 R Gina

Northrop T-38A Talon

Northrop T-38A Talon

Vought A-7P Corsair II