In 1977, 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. This was the third aerobatics team established by the PoAF, after two teams of the 1950s — the Dragões (Dragons) and the São Jorge (Saint George) teams.
The single fatal accident in the team's history occurred on 9 December 1990, when one of its T-37Cs suffered a catastrophic wing structural failure during a practice session, killing team pilot José Magalhães da Costa. The accident prompted a fleet-wide inspection which revealed that all but five T-37 aircraft in the PoAF inventory suffered from fatigue induced micro-cracks in the wings' structure. Repairs to airworthy status were considered financially inadvisable. This conclusion, together with a restructure of the PoAF in the 1990s, led to the phase-out of the T-37 and an interruption of the team's activities.
Two Alpha Jets performing in 2006
In 1997 the team was reactivated, being integrated with the 103 Squadron Caracóis and equipped with Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft, having a team of seven officer pilots and a maintenance team. The first public appearance with the Alpha Jet was on June 27, 1997, at the commemorations of the PoAF's 45th anniversary in Sintra.
In 1998, the team was deactivated for logistics reasons.
On the occasion of the PoAF's 50th anniversary in 2001, the responsibility to prepare an Alpha Jet flight demonstration for the commemorations was given to 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 103 Squadron, based at Beja Air Base. The team was deactivated again in 2010, before the start of the airshow season.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asas de Portugal.
official website (in Portuguese)
(Remembering the Asas de Portugal - Part I), Mais Alto September/October 2002 issue (in Portuguese)
(Remembering the Asas de Portugal - Part II), Mais Alto November/December 2002 issue (in Portuguese)
Asas de Portugal - The return of the Alpha Jet Acrobatic Patrol, Nuno Martins, January 22, 2003 (in Portuguese)
Asas de Portugal - 30 Anos[permanent dead link], photographic gallery of the Asas de Portugal 30th anniversary
March 07, 2023
asas, portugal, wings, portugal, flight, demonstration, team, created, 1977, integrated, with, esquadra, squadron, portuguese, force, portugal, national, aerobatic, flying, team, flew, german, force, dassault, breguet, dornier, alpha, jets, wings, portugal, te. The Asas de Portugal lit Wings of Portugal was a flight demonstration team created in 1977 integrated with Esquadra 103 103 Squadron of the Portuguese Air Force It was Portugal s national aerobatic flying team and flew two ex German Air Force Dassault Breguet Dornier Alpha Jets Wings of PortugalAsas de PortugalAsas de Portugal team emblemActive1977 19901997 199820012005 2010CountryPortugalBranchPortuguese Air ForceRoleAerobatic display teamSize2 Pilots8 SupportAir BaseAir Base No 11Aircraft flownTrainer 1977 1992 Cessna T 37 1997 2010 Dassault Dornier AlphaHistory EditIn 1977 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 This was the third aerobatics team established by the PoAF after two teams of the 1950s the Dragoes Dragons and the Sao Jorge Saint George teams Asas de Portugal operated the Cessna T 37C for 13 years while integrated with the 102 Squadron Panchos The single fatal accident in the team s history occurred on 9 December 1990 when one of its T 37Cs suffered a catastrophic wing structural failure during a practice session killing team pilot Jose Magalhaes da Costa The accident prompted a fleet wide inspection which revealed that all but five T 37 aircraft in the PoAF inventory suffered from fatigue induced micro cracks in the wings structure Repairs to airworthy status were considered financially inadvisable This conclusion together with a restructure of the PoAF in the 1990s led to the phase out of the T 37 and an interruption of the team s activities Two Alpha Jets performing in 2006In 1997 the team was reactivated being integrated with the 103 Squadron Caracois and equipped with Dassault Breguet Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft having a team of seven officer pilots and a maintenance team The first public appearance with the Alpha Jet was on June 27 1997 at the commemorations of the PoAF s 45th anniversary in Sintra In 1998 the team was deactivated for logistics reasons On the occasion of the PoAF s 50th anniversary in 2001 the responsibility to prepare an Alpha Jet flight demonstration for the commemorations was given to 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 103 Squadron based at Beja Air Base The team was deactivated again in 2010 before the start of the airshow season See also EditRotores de PortugalExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asas de Portugal Asas de Portugal official website in Portuguese Recodando os Asas de Portugal I Parte Remembering the Asas de Portugal Part I Mais Alto September October 2002 issue in Portuguese Recordando os Asas de Portugal II Parte Remembering the Asas de Portugal Part II Mais Alto November December 2002 issue in Portuguese Asas de Portugal The return of the Alpha Jet Acrobatic Patrol Nuno Martins January 22 2003 in Portuguese Asas de Portugal 30 Anos permanent dead link photographic gallery of the Asas de Portugal 30th anniversary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Asas de Portugal amp oldid 1063231004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
