Patrulla Aguila
Prehistory
The first aerobatic team from Spanish Air Force is created in 1954 including six T-6 Texan airplanes, based in Basic Air School. In the next year in Jet Training Air School is established an aerobatic team flying with T-33 Shooting Star planes. After receiving new F-5 planes in that school, this team is removed to Zaragosa.
In 1956 during return from training flight, Lt.Col Hevia leading the four-ship F-86 Sabre's formation suggests to execute loop in diamond formation, and then roll. This is the begging of the famous team during these years, later in 1958 became Patrulla Ascua. The team is from 1st Fighter Wing based in Manises. Later to the team is added 5th F-86 Sabre for solo demonstration. First demonstration is on 23 Feb 1956 in Manises Air Base, but bad weather made the show not impressive. On 22 June 1956 they fly during opening of a new airport in Rome, Italy. During this period they haven't statute like official aerobatic team. Later the team planes are painted in red and yellow colors (Spanish flag colors).
On 28 Sep 1958 during "Bomb Burst" maneuver in training flight, #4 crashed. This event breaks off the team existence for three years, until 2 May 1961, when they fly in Sevilla. Patrulla Ascua has just a few airshows thought these years and on 12 Jan 1965 Patrulla Ascua made its last air demonstration.
In 1980 in Albacente Air Base is created aerobatic team flying with Mirage F-1 and exists till 1987, when is disbanded.
Patrulla Aguila History
Early in the morning of 4 June 1985, five Spanish built training jets, CASA C-101 Aviojet, take off from San Javier Air Base, to check capabilities of these planes to fly in close formation. The pilots are from General Air Academy, and initiator of this is Capt. Carrizosa. After 10 days the new team made its first public demonstration with four C-101 planes, in Jerez de la Frontera Air Base, under the name Patrulla Aguila (Aguila = Eagle). Planes are painted in standard silver paint scheme and team logo. In the second demonstration they fly with five planes, and in the third with six.
On 16 July 1986, Patrulla Aguila visit for the first time foreign country - Belgium.
On the next year they start to use smoke, but only on the three planes from main four-ship, exclude leaders plane, and only white smoke, because tryouts for colored smoke failed. Later that year they visit England during Air Tattoo.
On 11 Apr 1988, the team made an airshow in front of Their Majesty's King and Queen of Spain, in General Air Academy in San Javier. In that show team flies with seven planes and all of them use white smoke. This count of planes is a present. Later in that year team pilots receives blue painted flying suits, their official uniform.
In Oct 1991 the Patrulla Aguila planes receives its present pain scheme, inspired from Spanish aerobatic team from the past Patrulla Ascua.
In 8 May 1992 finally they use red and yellow smoke, but only four of their planes. Later in that year Patrulla Aguila take part in opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Barcelona. Till the end of 1992 show season all of the team planes start to use colored smoke. On the next year prince Philip became a honorable member of the team.
What are Patrulla Aguila
The team consists of 12 Spanish built training jets, CASA C-101 Aviojet, but only seven of them fly in airshows. #12th plane is spare and stay in the teams base in San Javier. Also team consists of 11 pilots carrying callsigns Aguila. During the show the team separate to three formations, basic four-ship formation, #5 is solo pilot, and #6 and #7 like solo pair. Patula Aguila has a spare pilot. The ground crew of the team consists of about 30 people. 16 of them is called front line, preparing planes just before demonstration.
