Spain (2019)

Spain 2019

In February 2019 4Aviation was welcomed at Talavera la Real Air Base to capture the operations of the F-5Ms of Ala23. The hospitality was awesome, both for the 4Aviation group as well as the other visitors. After two days at Talavera we could also enjoy the Spanish hospitality at Moron de la Frontera.

This tour would not have been possible without the help of our great friend Koos Heemskerk.

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10 February 2019

On Sunday 10 February a group of 21 avid aviation enthusiasts met up at Schiphol airport for the 3 hour flight to Malaga. Here we landed late morning, collected a few more people and then went looking for the rental cars, which took a bit longer than usual. But we were on our way for a great escape of the dull northern European weather and embraced the first signs of Spring in Spain.

We had opted to fly to Malaga as we had requested a visit to Ala78 at nearby Granada Armilla, but this was, unfortunately, not granted. Unfortunately is perhaps not the best phrase in this case as we surprised all tour members with a surprise visit on Wednesday.

A long, but leisurely, drive brought us past the airport of Seville where we checked out the ramps of Airbus. These were filled with several French, German, Spanish and Turkish A400Ms as well as several exotic CN235s and C295s from Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. At the hotel in Badajoz we met up with several more participants. A total of 38 joined us on this tour.

The day ended with a nice meal and drink outside one of the local restaurants.

11 February 2019

On Monday 11 February we reported to Talavera la Real airbase in the morning. Due to a little miscommunication we were a bit early, but waited outside the main gate. The fog made place for blue skies and we noted a nice row of SF-5Ms on the flightline.

Around 11am we entered the airbase and smoothly picked up our prepared visitor badges with the lovely ladies of Ala 23. Next up was an interview by a local TV station (https://www.canalextremadura.es/portada/actualidad/objetivo-fotografiar-al-f-5) and a briefing by Wing Commander Colonel Vidal about the history and tasks of Ala 23 as well as the do’s and don’ts at the flightline. Everything went in a super relaxed atmosphere. Now there was time to take pictures of the preserved aircraft, F-5, F-86 and T-33 near the control tower.

Then it was time for the main event, the operational, almost 50 year old SF-5Ms of Ala23. We were taken by coach to the flightline, but later it was also possible to walk the short distance between the flightline and the carpark and canteen.

On the ramp were nine aircraft. Two on a small static, displayed in different configurations. Six of the aircraft would fly multiple missions, up to four, each day. From the flightline one could walk to the edge of the taxi track to see them taxi by. During both days you could choose where to stand and coaches were shuttling between these spots. The Wing Commander and Public Affairs officer also took requests and when in reason, and operational possible, these would be granted to take the best pictures. A job well done to the Ala23 team!

The spottersday would continue well into the late evening. The sun was slowly setting giving a great orange sky and turning into a pitch black when the ramp floodlights were turned of as part of the training programme.

After the last SF-5M had turned of the engine it was time to head to the hotel with many Gigabytes on the datacards and a lot of great memories. But this was not the end, as we were expected one more day at the base.

12 February 2019

On Tuesday 12 February several of the participants explored part of the city as we did not need to be at the airbase very early. We enjoyed a local breakfast in one of many breakfast bars followed by a walk through part of the old town. We reported at the base around 13pm and had a friendly chat with the Wing Commander and Public Affairs officer.

For the rest the day was similar as the day before. Wonder around the busy flightline, with again up to four missions per aircraft being flown well into the dark. Seeing how the fire department is dumping water under a parked SF-5M to get some ‘puddle’-shots, standing along the taxi track, getting to the ‘last chance’ for pictures with yet another angle, moving around stairs, witnessing the simulator being used by a student, etc, etc, etc

The hosts of Ala 23 had really pulled all the stops to give all enthusiast the best opportunities. We agreed to leave as soon as the last SF-5M had taxied out for its night mission. We had about a 2,5 hour drive ahead to Seville. Here we arrived rather late, but the hotel still served a nice meal and a couple of drinks.

13 February 2019

Wednesday 13 February was a bit of a surprise for the participants. Upon departure we did not have a fixed schedule for the day. But we surprised them with a base visit at Moron de la Frontera. Home of Ala11, a Eurofighter unit, and Grupo 22, the Spanish P-3 Orion unit.

From the hotel we drove past Seville airport to check on any changes with Airbus. Then onward for the 50 kilometre drive to the airbase. Check into the base went smoothly and a luxury coach brought us to a couple of preserved aircraft followed by the briefing room. Here we saw a short film about the base and the units.

Then onwards to the flightline. Fairly short after our arrival a couple of Eurofighters, a P-3M as well as a visiting Beech C90, Cessna Ce560 and CN235 arrived! Wow, what a great start. All could be very well photographed. Then it was time to go to the north side of the airbase for the P-3M Orions of Grupo 22. Here we also took our group picture. Then back to the southern part of the flightline to see some Eurofighters taxiing out. This as done from the edge of the taxi track. Similar as at Talavera, the host at Moron was very flexible and did his utmost to help us out. The tour concluded with a look in the multiple hangars where many Eurofighters and an old F-5 were undergoing maintenance. Near the main gate it was time to photograph the recently positioned P-3 gate guard. The great end of a superb visit!

As we had to catch a flight home that evening from Malaga we ventured east, but one car firstly dropped some people of at Seville airport. As there was time we enjoyed a meal on the beach of Torremolinos before boarding the flight. Just before midnight all those on the flight to Amsterdam had collected their luggage and looked back at a prefect couple of days in sunny Spain. The hospitality was unbelievable and we are already planning to return to Spain later in 2019!

Spain 2019

Spain 2019

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Spain (2019)

Spain 2019

Spain 2019

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