Asas de Portugal

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Asas De Portugal (Wings of Portugal)
Esquadra 103 (103 Squadron)


caption=Alpha-Jet
dates= 1977—1990
1997—1998
2001
2005—Present
country=
allegiance=
branch=
type=
role= Aerobatic display team
size= 2 Pilots
8 Support
command_structure=
garrison=Air Base No. 11, Portugal
garrison_label=Air Base
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
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equipment=2 Alpha Jet A attack/trainer aircraft
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battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
disbanded=
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aircraft_attack=(1997—present) Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet A
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter=(1950s) F-84G Thunderjet
aircraft_helicopter=
aircraft_helicopter_attack=
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aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_trainer=(1977—1992) Cessna T-37C
aircraft_transport=

The "Asas De Portugal" ("Wings of 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 acrobatic flying team and fly two ex-Luftwafe Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet. Their colour scheme is very dramatic and colorful and displays can often be compared to the synco pair from the Patrouille de France.

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 aircraft, having a team of seven officer aviator pilots (PILAV) and a maintenance team. The first public appearance with the Alpha Jet was in 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.

Team

As of 2007, the "Wings of Portugal" team is the following:

* Pilots:
** Capt. Estrela,
** Capt. Rocha;
* Logistics, Speakers and Public Relations:
** Capt. Paulo Videira,
** Lt. Ribeiro;
* Mechanics:
** Technical Sgt. Ruivo,
** Technical Sgt. Guerreiro,
** Airmen 1st Class Esperança,
** Airmen 1st Class Botelho,
** Airmen Lutas,
** Airmen Silvestre;

ee also

*Rotores de Portugal

External links

* [http://www.asasdeportugal.com.pt/ "Asas de Portugal"] official website pt icon
* [http://www.emfa.pt/www/po/asas/asas_t37/maisalto_setout02.pdf Recordando os Asas de Portugal - I Parte] (Recording the Asas de Portugal - Part I), "Mais Alto" September/October 2002 issue pt icon
* [http://www.emfa.pt/www/po/asas/asas_t37/maisalto_novdez02.pdf Recordando os Asas de Portugal - II Parte] (Recording the Asas de Portugal - Part II), "Mais Alto" November/December 2002 issue pt icon
* [http://walkarounds5.home.sapo.pt/artigos/artigo2.pdf "Asas de Portugal" - The return of the Alpha Jet Acrobatic Patrol] , Nuno Martins, January 22, 2003 pt icon
* [http://walkarounds-fotos.fotopic.net/c1304440.html "Asas de Portugal - 30 Anos"] , photographic gallery of the "Asas de Portugal" 30th year anniversary