AIR TATTOO IS IN ‘SEVENTH’ HEAVEN

An aerobatics display team from Portugal that formed 31 years ago especially to take part in the Royal International Air Tattoo is among an incredible seven international teams performing at this summer’s Air Tattoo.

Air Tattoo Director and co-founder Tim Prince said the Asas de Portugal, which translates as ‘the Wings of Portugal’, was formed in 1977 on the orders of the then Portuguese Air Force Chief of Staff who, having attended the airshow the previous year, decided he wanted his air force to demonstrate its aerobatic skills at the following year’s airshow.
Tim said: “We were delighted when we heard the team was being formed especially so that it could take part in the Air Tattoo. It felt a great honour and demonstrated to us how valuable the Air Tattoo was becoming as a platform for international military aviation. Because of their history, we really consider the Asas de Portugal to be part of the family.”
Operated by 103 Squadron of the Portuguese Air Force, the Asas de Portugal has become Portugal's national acrobatic flying team, flying two Alphajets.
Joining them in July will be the Patrouille de France; Escuadrilla de Alta Acrobacia 'Halcones' from Chile; the Esquadrilha da Fumaca, EDA from Brazil, the Turkish Stars’, the Patrouille Suisse and the legendary RAF Red Arrows.
Mr Prince said: “Because the teams often fly different types of aircraft, each display demonstrates different piloting skills. Add to this the individual flair that different nationalities bring to their performances and we can look forward to a large helping of Mediterranean passion, South American flamboyance and European precision flying that will not be rivalled anywhere else in the world this year.”

   
  

                                                       
March 25, 2008