AEROTRANSTORNADOS Nº51

AEROTRANSTORNADOS Nº51

August – December 2017

Alcafozes (Castelo Branco)

Confirmed presence on 19.8.2017, of Cessna T-37C nº 2423, at Nossa Senhora do Loreto chapel groundings.

Alverca (DGMFA)

A couple of Alphajets were noted as ”road runners” in early November 2017, coming from Beja (BA11) bound to Alverca (DGMFA). Both appeared to be long term storage a/c, no. 15223 (splinter c/s) plus another one (lizard  c/s). The Alphajet fleet is bound to become withdrawn from use by early 2018.

Beja (civil airfield)

Noteworthy the continued presence of the fuselage and wings of AT-401 Thrush Commander reg. CS-AQE (noted 22.8.2017).

Covilhã

Continued presence of FIAT G.91R/3 5425 and T-37C 2417 on a visit in 19.8.2017;

Lajes (BA4)

Hosted by BA4, Lusitano 2017 exercice, took place from 24 to 30 October 2017, involving all three branches of the armed forces. This saw the participation of FAP with a C-130 (16806),  2x F-16’s (15117, 15135), and a P-3P Cup+ (14808). The Portuguese Navy operated in the execice a single Super Lynx Mk.95 no.19201

Leixões (harbor)

Royal Navy’s RFA Argus was noted here during the weekend 18/19 November, having on board 3x AW159 Wildcat HMA.2’s of 825NAS (ZZ528, ZZ378, ZZ377). 

Monte Real (BA5)

At the Open Base Day, on the 10th September 2017, and besides the resident w&r, noted the presence of Esq.502 C-295M 16703 (flight baptisms), and also on the static display Esq.101 TB-30’s 11406, 11410, and F-16 15118. 

The “traditional” line up F-16’s included: 15104; 15106; 15113; 15114; 15116; 15119; 15120; 15128 (RomAF 1607); 15130 (RomAF 1609); 15131; 15136; 15139 (RomAF 1612);

North hangar: 15112(?); 15132; 15133. Central hangar: 15108; 15115; 15122. Main hangar: 15109; ‘15100’. Flights included all the underlined above plus the two QRA a/c: 15135; 15141. 

Montijo (BA6)

Noted on display during a Presidential ceremony at BA6, was SA-330 Puma no.19503 (c/n 1009), previously noted stored in Alverca (DGMFA). 

The ceremony took place on the 11th September 2017, the President of the Republic decorated the Esquadra 751 with the highest honorary order the “Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada, do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito” (Military Order of the Tower and Sword, Valor, Loyalty and Merit).

Porto (aeroporto)

Merlin HM.2 ZH854 RNavy 820NAS arr.12 dep. 14 Sep

Santa Cruz (airfield), Torres Vedras

Alphajet no.15222 continues here displayed at this airfield, l/n Sep.2017.

Santo André das Tojeiras

Still noted here in 19.8.2017, at the local Junta de Freguesia groundings the FIAT G.91T/3 ex WGAF 34+27 (c/n 91-2-0030).

Sintra (BA1)

Not counting the resident Museu do Ar collection, at the Open Base Day, on the 10th September 2017, were noted, 

F-16’s flyby 15119, 15131

C-295M (flight baptisms) 16703

YAKSTARS Display Team [Yak-52 SP-YEL, SP-YOC, SP-YAH]

Visiting from Fundación Infante de Orleans, in Cuatro Vientos, Madrid, was Cessna OV-1E Bird Dog EC-MAB in the colours of USAAF 12992 [c/n305M-0040, exMM61-2992, ex N191JL].

The flight line included Esq.101 TB-30’s 11410, 11405, 11414, 11417

DHC1 1315

Wonderful report http://www.operacional.pt/dia-de-base-aberta-em-sintra/

Additionally…

Fighters passing by Lajes (BA4), Terceira, Açores

12JAN17 - 7x Typhoons RAF - 4x Typhoons departed on 13JAN17 and the other 3x Typhoons on 14JAN17

14JAN17 - 1x Typhoon RAF - Departed on 14JAN17

20JAN17 - 4x A10s USAF MD - Departed 23JAN17

21JAN17 - 2x A10s USAF MD - Departed 23JAN17

22JAN17 - 6x A10s USAF MD - Departed 24JAN17

23JAN17 - 6x F16s RNLAF - Departed 25JAN17

25JAN17 - 2x F16s RNLAF - Departed 26JAN17

18FEB17 - 10x Typhoons SpanishAF - Departed 19FEB17

22FEB17 - 3x F16s USAF AV - Departed 25FEB17

02MAR17 - 3x TOR RAF - Departed 04MAR17

12MAR17 - 4x Typhoons Spanish - Departed 13MAR17

13MAR17 - 4x Typhoons Spanish - Departed 14MAR17

15MAR17 - 6x F16 RNLAF - Departed 16MAR17

20MAR17 - 4x F16s IRAQ (Delivery) - Departed 22MAR17

24MAR17 - 5x EA6Bs USMC MD - Departed 26MAR17

09APR17 - 6x RFAL FranceAF - 5x RFAL departed 10APR17 and the last RFAL on 13APR17

12APR17 - 6x F16s USAF FM - Departed 14APR17

12APR17 - 2x F15s JZ - Departed 13APR17

13APR17 - 6x F16s USAF FM - Departed 14APR17

14APR17 - 5x EA6Bs USMC CY - Departed 15APR17

21APR17 - 3x F35 IsraelAF - Departed 23APR17

29APR17 - 3x RFAL FranceAF - Departed 30APR17

30APR17 - 3x RFAL FranceAF - Departed 01MAY17

02MAY17 - 7x Typhoons RAF - Departed 03MAY17

15MAY17 - 6x AV8s USMC CG - Departed 18MAY17

17MAY17 - 4x AV8s USMC CG - Departed 18MAY17 (2x AV8s return to Lajes Engine Malfunction - Departed 10JUN17)

24MAY17 - 2x AV8s USMC CG - Departed 25MAY17

18JUL17 - 12x A10s USAF DM - 6x A10s departed 19JUL17, 6x A10s departed 20JUL17

21JUL17 - 4x MV22Bs USMC EM - Departed 22JUL17

01AUG17 - 5x F16s PoAF - 2x F16s departed 08AUG17 & 3 F16s departed 10AUG17

12SEP17 - 2x F35s IsraelAF (Delivery) - Departed 14SEP17

25SEP17 - 3x F16s IRAQ (Delivery) - Departed 27SEP17

08OCT17 - 6x EA6Bs USMC MD - Departed 10OCT17

13OCT17 - 5x EA18Gs USN NL - Departed 17OCT17

24OCT17 - 2x F16s PoAF - Departed 26OCT17

19NOV17 - F/A-18D of USMC VMFA(AW)-224 "Fighting Bengals" arr. as “Mazda71”

164876/WK11; 164705/WK02; 164901/WK06; 164723/WK13; 164957/WK01 (black tail mks);

20NOV17 - F/A-18D of USMC VMFA(AW)-224 "Fighting Bengals" arr. as “Mazda81”

164878/WK00 (tiger c/s) “Mazda81”; 164961/WK08 “Mazda82”; 164959/WK14 “Mazda83”; 164951/WK05 “Mazda84”; 164679/WK04 “Mazda85”

Support a/c  KC-10's McGuire ANG nos. 40190; 60028; 70121; 70120;  plus KC-135R Iowa ANG no.71441

05DEC17 – 3x F-15SA delivery flight to Saudi AF 12-1053/”Retro61”; 12-1056/”Retro63”; 12-1057/”Retro62”; support a/c USAF KC-10A 84-0192

08DEC17 – 3x F-15SA delivery flight to Saudi AF 12-1058 +2

09DEC17 – Boeing E-3C 80-0138/OK arr. As “Shuck82”

Thanks to: André Carvalho, André Inácio (via MS), Erwin Husmann (www.spottingmode.com), Floriano Morgado, Luís Neves, Miguel Santos,  Miguel Silva Machado (www.operacional.pt), Ségio Couto.

Aditional information: Jorge Ruivo/CanonTwo 
[http://cannontwo.blogspot.pt/2017/09/ultimos-3-f-16-para-romenia.html]; 
José Luís Lopes, José Fernandes Santos, Scramble [www.scramble.nl]

SA-330 Puma List

FAP	Serial	remarks
9501	1001	1968 - first helicopter of the SA-330 production line; 1968 - test reg. F-WHMM 1969.06.03 - delivery date (as SA-330C) . BA3, Tancos; 1970.06.11 - to Esq94 "Os Moscas", BA9 Luanda, Angola; 1975.05.05 - arrival from Angola - based BA6; 1982.05.12 to 15 - VIP transport mission - first visit of Pope John Paul II to Portugal; 1986.06.13 - w/o – accident at BA6  [during suspended cargo practice, the cable got entangled on the tail rotor, causing the loss of control and consequently the helicopter hiting the ground - 1K 3inj. ]; Total logged flight hours: 2.341H20M
19502	1002	1968 - second production line a/c; 1969.08.02 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1970.10.20 - to Esq94 "Os Moscas", BA9 Luanda, Angola; 1972.01.23 -  incident w/ 9503, at Toto, Angola - recovered; 1975.05.05 - arrival from Angola - based BA6; 1979.12.02 - noted operational BA6; 1983.02.19 - arr. BA4; 1995.11. - noted oper. Esq.751; 2004.04.25 - arr. BA4 from BA6 for Esq.711; 2004 – noted oper. E.711/BA4 “20.000HV” mks.; 2006.04.11 – wfu/stored BA4; 2008 – Operação Fénix - back to active service by 2009; 2009.03.05 - Operação Fénix - noted mnt BA4; 2009.03.09 – total logged flight hours - 6.159H30M 2011.04.13 - dep. BA4 to Sta. Maria, and AM3 Porto Santo n/s; 2011.04.14 - arr. BA11 Beja [last flight] for storage; 2012.05.03 - noted stored BA11; 2017.04.27 - noted stored Beja (BA11); ..? 2017.10.12 - confirmed stored dismantled BA11 [to integrate the local Museu do Ar branch];
19503	1009	1969.11.16 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1970.11.12 - to Esq94 "Os Moscas", BA9 Luanda, Angola; 1972.01.23 - incident w/ 9502, in Toto, Angola - recovered; 1975.05.05 - arrival from Angola - based BA6; 1979.12.12 - noted operational BA6; 1989.07.22 - noted oper. Fairford UK ('9503' w/no emergency flotation gear); 1995.05.01 - noted oper. Esq.751, det. Porto Santo; 1996.06.01 - noted mnt BA6 after sustaining severe damage to the tail boom in heavy landing - tail replaced; 2005.06.04 - noted oper. BA6;  2006.03.29 – noted oper. Esq.711 - Sta. Maria; 2006.04.11 – noted oper. Esq.711/BA4; 2006 - stored BA11; 2008.03.27 - Operação Fénix – noted during run up at BA11; 2008.04.04 - Operação Fénix – first test flight - BA11; 2009.09-10/11 - Operação Fénix - flight Beja-Porto Santo-Santa Maria-Lajes; 2009.03.05 - noted oper. BA4; 2009.03.09 – total logged flight hours - 6.247H00M 2011.04.13 - dep. BA4 Lajes to Sta. Maria, and AM3 Porto Santo n/s; 2011.04.14 - arr. BA11 Beja [last flight] for storage; 2012.05.03 - noted stored BA11; 2014.02.28 - declared for sale by MoD (batch of 8a/c); 2017.05 – noted stored Alverca (DGMFA); 2017.09.11 - noted BA6 (static display during Esq.751 cerimony);
19504	1004	1969.11.18 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1970.02.20 - to Esq94 "Os Moscas", BA9 Luanda, Angola; 1974 - noted oper.Luso, Angola; 1975.05.26 - arrival from Angola to BA6; 1977.01.11 - noted based BA6; 1980.05.25 - noted operational BA6; 1986 - noted oper. Esq.751; 2006.03.28 – dep. BA6 arr. Porto Santo; dep. 29th to BA4, via Sta. Maria; 2006.04.11 – noted oper. Esq.711/BA4; 2006 - stored BA11; 2008.04.15 - Operação Fénix – noted during run up at BA11; 2008.04.16 - Operação Fénix – first test flight - BA11; 2009.09-10/11 - Operação Fénix - flight Beja-Porto Santo-Santa Maria-Lajes; 2009.03.05 – noted mnt. BA4; [photo 2] 2009.03.09 – total logged flight hours - 6.821H55M 2009.09.24 – noted w/ “40 years/70.000 flight hours” c/s; 2011.04.13 - dep. BA4 Lajes to Sta. Maria, and AM3 Porto Santo n/s; 2011.04.14 - arr. BA11 Beja [last flight - last of 3ship formation] for storage; 2012.05.03 - noted stored BA11; 2014.02.28 - declared for sale by MoD (batch of 8a/c); 2017.04 - noted as "road runner" going to Alverca (DGMFA) for storage; 2017.05 – noted stored Alverca (DGMFA);
19505	1011	1969.11.02 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1970.12.10 - to Esq94 "Os Moscas", BA9 Luanda, Angola; 1975.05.16 - arrival from Angola - based BA6; 1977.09 - noted oper.BA6; 1978.01.31 - arr. Açores; 1984 - noted oper. Esq.751; 1986.07.19 - noted oper. Koksijde, BE as '9505'; 1999.09.9 to 12 - noted oper. Évora, Portugal Airshow; 2006.03.28 – dep. BA6 arr. Porto Santo; dep. 29th to BA4, via Sta. Maria; 2006.04.11 – noted oper. Esq.711/BA4; 2006 - stored BA11; 2007 - noted oper. BA6; 2008.07.24 - Operação Fénix – noted during run up at BA11; 2008.08.05 - Operação Fénix –first  test flight - BA11 2009.09-10/11 - Operação Fénix - flight Beja-Porto Santo-Santa Maria-Lajes; 2009.03.05 - noted oper. BA4; 2009.03.09 – total logged flight hours - 8.276H55M 2009.08.18 - last logged flight with Esq.752; 2014.02.28 - declared for sale by MoD (batch of 8a/c); 2017.04 - noted stored Alverca (DGMFA);
19506	1019	1969 - reg. F-ZKCH 1969 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1970.11.12 - to Esq94 "Os Moscas", BA9 Luanda, Angola; 1975.05.24 - arrival from Angola - based BA6; 1980.03.31 - noted operational BA6; 1994.10 - noted oper. Esq.751; 1996.07 - noted oper. Esq.711; 1999.01 - noted mnt OGMA; 2000.03.28 - noted oper.; 2000.07.25 - noted oper. BA4 (Medevac on ship “Liberty Wave”);  2006.03.02 – noted oper. Esq751 BA6; 2006.04.11 – stored BA6; Total logged flight hours - 6.244H45M 2014.02.28 - declared for sale by MoD (batch of 8a/c); 2017.05 – noted stored Alverca (DGMFA);
9507	1035	1970 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1971.03.30 - w/o due to sabotage at BA3 Tancos; Total logged flight hours – 50H00M
19508	1040	1970.06.25 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1973.02 - to Esq.703 "Vampiros", based AB7 Tete, Moçambique; 1973+ - noted oper. Moçambique; 1973 - noted oper. Negage; 1975.05.09 - arrival from Moçambique - based BA6; 1977.09.16 - arr.Açores; 1980's noted oper. Açores; 1996.07 - noted oper. Esq.711; 2004.06.05 - noted Commuity Appreciation Day, Lajes (static), Esq.711; 2005.07 – wfu- noted dsmtl fuselage BA6; 2006.04.11 – wfu/stored BA6; Total logged flight hours - 6.824H40M 2014.02.28 - declared for sale by MoD (batch of 8a/c); 2017.05 – noted stored Alverca (DGMFA);
19509	1046	1970.07.19 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1973.02 - to Esq.703 "Vampiros", based AB7 Tete, Moçambique; 1973.07.20 - noted based AB7; 1974.04.16 - noted BA9; 1975.05.15 - arrival from Moçambique - based BA6; 1980.01.21 - arr. Açores; 1995.11 - noted oper. Esq.711; 2000.05 - noted mnt OGMA (GV/3rd echelon); 2000.10.21 - noted oper. Faro; 2004.03.26 - noted oper. Esq.711/BA4; 2005.06.04 - noted oper. BA6; 2007.01.27 - noted oper. Ponta Delgada helipad as 'Medic17'; 2006 - stored BA11; 2008.06.02 - Operação Fénix – noted during run up at BA11; 2008.07.24 - Operação Fénix – first test flight - BA11 2009.09-10/11 - Operação Fénix - flight Beja-Porto Santo-Santa Maria-Lajes; 2009.03.05 - noted oper. BA4; 2009.03.09 – total logged flight hours - 7.963H40M 2014.02.28 - declared for sale by MoD (batch of 8a/c); 2017.05 – noted stored Alverca (DGMFA);
9510	1050	1970 - delivery date- BA3, Tancos; 1970 - noted OGMA [grey/green/dayglo c/s]; 1973.02 - to Esq.703 "Vampiros", based AB7 Tete, Moçambique; 1973.03.20 - noted based AB7; 1973.12.18 - w/o - accident on landing at Cantina de Oliveira barracs, Moçambique; Total logged flight hours – 372H10M
19511	1059	1970.11.14 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1972(late)? - noted BA9 in transit to AB7;  1973.02 - to Esq.703 "Vampiros", based AB7 Tete, Moçambique; 1973.03.20 - noted based AB7; 1974.12.16 - noted BA9; 1975.05.15 - arrival from Moçambique - based BA6; 1976.11.26 - arr. Açores on board LPD-15 "Ponce" for operational evaluation; 1976.11.30 - Co Esquadra 752; 1977.04.11 - arr. Açores; 1979.01.16 - to OGMA for mnt; 1996.07 - noted oper. Esq.711; 2003.12.17 - noted oper. BA4; 2006.02.09 – noted oper. BA4 Esq.711; 2006.06.02 - noted oper. Esq.711 - Ponta Delgada; 2006.11.25 – noted wfu/stored BA11; Total logged flight hours - 6.758H30M 2014.02.28 - declared for sale by MoD (batch of 8a/c); 2017.04?05? - noted stored Alverca (DGMFA);
19512	1065	1970.11.14 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 1973.02 - to Esq.703 "Vampiros", based AB7 Tete, Moçambique; 1974.03.20 - noted base AB7; 1975.05.09 - arrival from Moçambique - based BA6; 1976.11.26 - arr. Açores on board LPD-15 "Ponce" for operational evaluation; 1976.11.30 - Co Esquadra 752; 1977.04.11 - arr. Açores; 1978.11.24 - to OGMA for mnt; 2000.05 - noted oper. BA6; 2006.02.03 - noted oper. BA6 w/ President of the Republic during EH-101 delivery cerimony;  2006.03.02 – noted oper.E.751 BA6; 2006 - to Museu do Ar; 2006.06.24 to 01.07 - noted Braga static dspl Air Force Anniversary;; Museu do Ar,  Sintra - noted 2012.06.29 ; 2015; l/n 08.09.2024; Total logged flight hours - 7.097H20M
19513	1270	1975.02.25 - delivery date - BA3, Tancos; 197? - noted oper. BA6; 1979.11.20 - noted oper. BA6; 1996.07 - noted oper. Esq.711; 1999.06.08 - noted mnt OGMA; 2000.05.17 - noted oper. BA4 (callsign “Puma33”); 2004.06.05 - noted Community Appreciation Day, Lajes (static), Esq.711; 2006.04.11 – noted oper.Esq.711/BA4; Total logged flight hours - 5.333H50M 2006 - noted stored BA11; 2014.02.28 - declared for sale by MoD (batch of 8a/c); 2017.05 – noted stored Alverca (DGMFA) - l/n 22.09.2018;

Versions

1969-1970 SA-330L  w/ 2x Turboméca Turmo III C 4 (1.450 shp)
1978-1980 SA-330H w/ 2x Turboméca Turmo IV C C 4 (1.575 shp) plus floating device, aditional fuel capacity, winch, radio-altimeter, TACAN, navigational  and flight instruments improvements (VOR/DME, FF/SIF), inertial naviation platform (Litton LTN-72R), doppler radar (Marconi AN/APN-208V), OMERA ORB-31 radar, and new maisn rotor blades.
1988-1994 SA-330S1 w/ 2x Turboméca Makila A1A (1.940shp) with command and control sistems identical to the Super Puma, and composite tail rotor blades.

Units

1965-1978 Esquadra Mista de Aviões e Helicópteros (BA3, Tancos)
1970 Esquadra de Helicópteros nº94 "Moscas" (BA9, Luanda, Angola)
1970 Esquadra de Helicópteros nº703 "Vampiros" ( AB7 Tete, Moçambique)
1974-1978 Grupo Aéreo de Helicópteros (BA6, Montijo) 
(1976)-1978 Esquadra de Busca e Salvamento nº42 (BA4 Lajes) [unit originaly born around 1945]
1978-Act. Esquadra de Busca e Salvamento nº751 "Pumas" (BA6, Montijo)
1975-1993 Esquadra de Busca e Salvamento nº752 "Pumas" (BA4, Lajes)
1993-2006 Esquadra de Busca e Salvamento nº711 "Albatrozes" (BA4 Lajes) deactivated 
2008.09 - 2008.12 Esquadra de Busca e Salvamento nº752 "Pumas" (BA4, Lajes)

Thanks to: António "5521" Luís; Miguel  "MiG" Santos; SAJU Rui Melo; André Carvalho; Filipe Cruz; Cor. Alexandre Figueiredo; TGen. Vizela Cardoso; João Espinho;



Other sources: 

Pássaro de Ferro

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2014/06/pumas-ex-fap-sem-compradores-m1615.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2014/03/governo-coloca-pumas-oficialmente-venda.html



http://www.passarodeferro.com/2011/07/base-das-lajes-i.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2011/06/imagens-da-chegada-dos-ultimos-tres-sa.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2011/04/o-ultimo-rugido-do-puma.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2011/02/helicopteros-m475-9al2011-parte-ii.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2009/11/forca-aerea-em-accao-nas-ilhas.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2009/07/o-efeito-puma.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2009/03/nos-acores-press-release-fap.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2007/09/a-vigilia-alerta.html

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2006/12/para-que-outros-vivam.html

Walkarounds

http://walkarounds-ccadf.blogspot.pt/2011/04/sa-330-puma-ultima-missao.html

http://walkarounds-ccadf.blogspot.pt/2011/04/o-ultimo-rugido-do-puma.html

http://walkarounds-ccadf.blogspot.pt/2010/02/historia-do-puma-na-forca-aerea.html

http://walkarounds-ccadf.blogspot.pt/2009/11/decorreu-no-passado-dia-24-de-setembro.html

Other related writtings elsewhere ...

RCC Lajes – a Busca e Salvamento nos Açores, in Jornal Take-Off, Julho 2009

SA-330 Puma - O Renascer das Cinzas, in Jornal Take-Off, Junho 2009

A Base Aérea das Lajes,  in Jornal Take-Off, Maio 2009

Evacuação médica a 200 milhas a Oeste das Flores, in Jornal Take-Off, Abril 2009 

Portuguese Pumas return to Service, in Air Forces Monthly, November 2008

Portuguese EH101 Deliveries, in Air Forces Monthly, May 2005

Força Aérea recebeu primeiros helicópteros EH-101 Merlin, in Jornal Take-Off, Março 2005