Planes and stuff

 Estava a mexer numas fotos mais antigas e achei que valia a pena partilhar esta....que mais icónico do que ter um raro (na Madeira) Alouette III, operando, com o Cabo Girão, como pano de fundo... 19340, da Esquadra 551 - Zangões, aterrando em Câmara de Lobos, durante a semana das Comemorações da Força Aérea Portuguesa, em 2010:

19340 e 19376 dos Rotores de Portugal na Madeira, em 2010 O Ministério da Defesa Nacional anunciou ontem a autorização do Ministro da Defesa Nacional para a alienação dos Alouette III ainda ao serviço e aquisição de 5 novos helicópteros ligeiros monomotores para sua substituição, que deverá ocorrer entre 2018 e 2020. Ver nota do MDN AQUI Um aparelho icónico, que evoca grandes feitos ao serviço de Portugal desde os tempos da Guerra no Ultramar até aos dias de hoje, mais de 50 anos depois, deixar-me-á igualmente uma marca indelével pela oportunidade de efectuar um voo no mesmo nos céus do Porto Santo 2010...grandes momentos!

Como ainda hoje falávamos no Alouette III e em jeito de homenagem aos excelentes serviços que esta máquina (e todos os que as têm operado e mantido), fica o destaque da semana, num registo que ainda não tinha publicado, obtido em 2010, na Madeira, aquando dos treinos dos Rotores de Portugal, em frente ao Aeroporto da Madeira, durante as Comemorações da Força Aérea 2010, que decorreram na Região. Fica um abraço especial a todo o pessoal da 552, que tivemos oportunidade de acompanhar nesses dias. Obrigado por tudo.

Last week PoAF celebrated its 59th Aniversary. You can check the event website here  (or check the link on the right column) Anyway, last year, celebrations were carried throught at Madeira. It was definitely one hell of a week!! I've been posting many pics thought the time but, many more are still one the "closet"... (Check PoAF 2010 celebrations pics here ) Probably the best time in those days was the time spent with Squadron 552 and the Rotores de Portugal, great guys! ;) So, here's a few more pics that, as far as I can remember haven't published here yet.... Formation flight with another AL.III at Porto Santo Set the camera settings and gave it to OPS Óscar Gomes for a few shots through the open door as I was with reall fasten seatbelts....(it would be a big fall throught the EH-101 wide open doors....lol) Low level on runway 36 before the landing on military apron... Big thumbs up for "Trinitá" for the very nice flight... At t...

This week was intending to choose some pic of the C-295 or Aviocar at AM3 - Porto Santo but yesterday, definitely had to choose this one.... This pics has already been Photo of the Week but yesterday, my wife got me a special birthday cake.....LOL My daughter is used to have birthday cakes themed after Barbies, Winx's and every other animated caracters, and when adults made birthday's she allways got disapointed because the cakes are usually plain simple... LOL, this time my wife surprised me with this one, and what a well choosen pic it was... This was definitely one of the best moments this year (the whole week)! Thanks!!

This week, another pic of the Rotores de Portugal as Photo of the Week . Was going to choose some other pics so you would't get  photos of the Rotores 2 weeks in a row but, today, the number 2 (Lt. Paulo Melo) and the PR of the Rotores shared at Facebook an Air Force video regarding the presence of Rotores the Portugal at Madeira, during PoAF Celebrations 2010 . Check the Video HERE , at PoAF Webpage

The first time I flew an helicopter was during the Portuguese Air Force Celebrations 2010 , that took place at Madeira. In a fantastic oportunity given by the PoAF, we managed to be on board the EH-101 that was providing SAR following to the ferry flight of the Rotores de Portugal, from Madeira to Porto Santo. This was also the helicopter used by PoAF media to register the trip....the first one made in AL.III between the two islands. The EH was the 19605 After take-off (and a nice departure, nose down into the runway), we proceeded to an orbiting patern, abeam the airport, while waiting for the departure of the 3 Alouette's of the Rotores de Portugal. Nice banking...check the artificial horizont While waiting took the oportunity for some shots of the airport.... We made the all flight in formation with the 3 Alouette's of the Rotores the Portugal but, during almost all the flight, the main doors were open for the fotages of the Air Force media department and we had ...

This photo of the Week was one of the great experiences I had, during PoAF Celebrations 2010. The flight baptisms in Alouette III at Porto Santo were made by "Rotores de Portugal" The three helos took off in line and went for the flight. I was quite focused in taking photos to the front of the helicopter when I noticed 19340 approaching us by the right. After a moment we made a 360 with the other Al.III in close formation with us, allowing me to make some really nice shots.... A Big Thanks to the guys at Rotores, an amazing experience!

Esta é dedicada ao pessoal da Madeira Spotters com quem acompanhei na maioria dos dias as Comemorações da Força Aérea na Madeira: Jorge Abreu , Paulo Olim e Paulo Brito ! Foram uns dias excelentes, fazendo-me lembrar outros tempos, quando o pessoal se juntou para ir a alguns festivais e eventos.

According to the Official program , by the end of the month we should have some displays by the PoAF helicopter display team "Rotores de Portugal". After the visit of the Pope João Paulo II to our island, back in 1991, this is only the second time the PoAF AL.III is at Madeira and the first that the "Rotores" will display...big moment indeed (or at least it's expected to be a big moment....) On countdown for the begining of the Celebrations, it's a good ocasion to remember the last display I saw of this team, in Évora, during Portugal Air Show 2009....