Remarks: The always fabulous Frecce Tricolori initiate the figure #12 of their routine, the Bull’s Eye with a Lomçovak by the Solo, at the practice day for the 100th Anniversary Airshow of the Turkish Air Force... impressive tight formation flying!!
Remarks: Flying at Montesinho Natural Park (Bragança) during a four day cross-country photo trip, we reach the Spanish border, outlined by the windmills... a truly fantastic sight! Until now, it's been the only time that i've flown in a snowy environment.
Remarks: Landing after an afternoon training mission to the shooting range. The Portuguese Air Force Alpha Jets adorned the "Asas de Portugal" Aerobatic Team paintscheme when the team was still active... now only the scheme remains...
Remarks: Performing a fantastic tactical landing at AM1 Ovar during Real Thaw 11 Exercise after an extraction mission across the North of Portugal, into Bragança... just check the position of the runway, nice!! An awesome day with three C-130 flights! (two ferrys and one mission)
Remarks: Now part of the Portuguese Air Force history, the Aviocar and the 401st Squadron "Cientistas" were retired on the 6th of December 2011 after 37 years of service and more than 170.000 flying hours in missions of photo reconnaissance, search and rescue, inter-island transport, electronic warfare, education and training of Navigators, pluri engine training, tactical transport and support for Airborne Troops (including troops launch), medical evacuation, VIP transport and land resource survey.
Remarks: Starting engines for departure into a Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) with three hoisting operations... with a Navy ship, the Cape Espichel cliffs and in high sea!
Remarks: Flying a 3 ship formation of Chipmunks from the Air Force Academy over the Sintra Mountain with most of it's landmarks in the background. Left of the frame it's the Pena National Palace, top left it's the Seteais Palace, below the second DHC-1 it's the Castle of the Moors and on top of the 1335's right wing is the Quinta da Regaleira. The best photo I could get for an air-to-air photoshoot about the 60th anniversary of the DCH-1 in the PoAF, a plane that my father also flew while he was serving.
Remarks: Air to Air near Santa Cruz with this ex-Portuguese Air Force FTB, a special aircraft for me since my father did more than 600 flying hours in these aircrafts while the was in the PoAF!
Remarks: The perfect end for an awesome Spotters Day at Real Thaw 12 Exercise... this Orion is seen here entering the runway for departure to Beja AB after a short sunset visit to Monte Real at the end of the afternoon missions!
Remarks: Is there a better way to return home after spending the weekend in an aviation safety forum in central Portugal than flying in formation for some sunset pictures?... In the back there's Tagus River and it's last two corners before reaching Lisbon, where it meets with the Atlantic Ocean.
Remarks: Hunting down the beaches of West Portugal with the first ever built Shark, a 4th generation ultralight. Picture taken at the end of Santa Cruz Air Race.
Remarks: Surfing the clouds with this beauty at the end of Santa Cruz Air Race, an aircraft that hours before I had flown. Picture taken from a Pipistrel Sinus... not bad, two new planes for me in one day!
Remarks: Flying low over the Ria de Aveiro in a ferry flight from Montijo AB to Ovar AB during Real Thaw 11 Exercise. A few hours after landing we took off in another C-130 for an extraction mission to Bragança where we picked up a team from the Navy's Detachment of Special Operations (DAE) that were in the field since 1 week ago and returned to Ovar. After delivering the PoAF's Unit of Protection of the Force that assisted the mission we departed again heading back to Montijo with the DAE... what a day!!
