Learning the Ropes

Sintra Air Force Base is home to the two squandrons tasked with Air Force and Navy, basic and advanced flying instruction.

• 801 Squadron "Eagles" flying the De Havilland Chipmunk mk20 tasked with basic flying instruction, and glider towing duties.
• 101 Squadron "Growl" flying the Aerospatiale TB-30 Epsilon and tasked with advanced instruction.

Recently, the Air Force opened its doors and kindly received a small group of aviation entusiasts from APEA (Portuguese Aviation Entusiasts Association) organization, that had the oportunity to visit both squadrons, and learn about the mission and its importance to the Portuguese Air Force, but also, to get to know some of the remarkable men and women that every day work with great professionalism, dedication and passion, to pass on their skills and knowledge to the newer generation of future Air Force and Navy pilots.

 

It was wounderful visit, and for that, my gratitude to the Portuguese Air Force for this oportunity!

 

Without fearther due, here are some of the moments captured by the camera.

 

Thank you for your visit.

Paulo Antunes

 

Click on the images to enlarge and for better quality.

 

101 Squadron "Badge", one reads "...teaching the principles of the art"

Walkinf to the flight line for their morning mission. In the background, a TB-30 Epsilon going through routine maintenance works.

Aerospatiale TB-30 Epsilon taxing

Epsilon with special paint work to comemorate 80.000 flying hours!!

At the end of the mission, several circuits were performed, leaving the spotters with the perfect oportunity to take some photos.

Epsilon resting

Low pass in landing configuration

The goup of Aviation entusiasts

Sintra castle in the background

Eagle´s "badge"

De Havilland Chipmunk mk20

Chipmunk in flight

Over the years the Chipmunk has been upgraded and reengined to keep up with its mission.

Chipmunk standing tall!

Beautiful lines!

Resting. Note the Air Force Academy "badge".

Before leaving, a oportunity presented itself for a quick shot of this Dakota DC-3 from TAP, under works for display at the Air Museum.

 

Also a surprise, this Sikorsky outside...another sweet for the spotters!