Monte Real Air Base, officially designated as Air Force Base No. 5 ( pt, Base Aérea Nº 5, BA5), is a Portuguese Air Force (PoAF)

air base An air base (sometimes referred to as a military air base, military airfield, military airport, air station, naval air station, air force station, or air force base) is an aerodrome used as a military base by a military force for the operation ...

located in

Monte Real Monte Real is a town (''vila'' in Portuguese) and a former civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government b ...

, Leiria,

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

. Its mission is to guarantee the readiness and deployment of the air force units based there. Since its opening in October 1959, the base has been home to the air force's jet fighter aircraft, with several of the units based there being equipped with F-86F Sabre, Fiat G.91,

T-33 Shooting Star The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then d ...

T-38 Talon The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first, and the most produced, supersonic trainer. The T-38 remains in service in several air forces. The United States Air Force (USAF) operates the most ...

and

A-7 Corsair II The LTV A-7 Corsair II is an American carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV). The A-7 was developed during the early 1960s as replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Its design w ...

aircraft. The base is currently home to two F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons.

History

The air base is located at the former installations of the

aero club A flying club or aero club is a not-for-profit, member-run organization that provides its members with affordable access to aircraft. Many clubs also provide flight training, flight planning facilities, pilot supplies and associated services, as ...

of Leiria, that existed from 1938 to 1941, when it became a military aerodrome of the Portuguese Army's aviation service. In 1952 the Army's aviation and the

Portuguese Navy The Portuguese Navy ( pt, Marinha Portuguesa, also known as ''Marinha de Guerra Portuguesa'' or as ''Armada Portuguesa'') is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Port ...

's aviation service were merged, resulting in the creation of the Portuguese Air Force, but the aerodrome wasn't actively used until the air base was established in 1959. Construction of the air base began in 1957 and was completed in 1959, it being officially inaugurated on 4 October by the President of the Republic Admiral

Américo Tomás Américo de Deus Rodrigues Tomás (; 19 November 1894 – 18 September 1987) was a Portuguese Navy officer and politician who served as the 13th president of Portugal from 1958 to 1974. Biography Early life Américo de Deus Rodrigues Tom� ...

. That same year the first Portuguese F-86F Sabre squadron, ''Esquadra 50'' "''Falcões''", that was created the previous year, was transferred to Monte Real and was re-designated as 51 Squadron "''Falcões''" (

Falcon Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene. Adult falcons ...

s). At the same time a second F-86F squadron, 52 Squadron "''Galos''" (

Rooster The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult m ...

s), was also formed. Adopting the motto "''Alcança Quem Não Cansa''" (attaining without ceasing), these two squadrons became part of the new Operational Group 501 and together totaled 50 F-86F combat aircraft. This number was later increased to 65 fighters. 52 Squadron was disbanded on 12 July 1961. Between 1974 and 1987 the Advanced Fighter Training Squadron ( pt, Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Aviões de Caça, E.I.C.P.A.C.), later re-designated as 103 Squadron, was based at Monte Real and operated the T-33A Shooting Star and

T-38A Talon The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet Supersonic aircraft, supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first, and the most produced, supersonic trainer. The T-38 remains in service in several air forces. The United States Air Force (USA ...

. On 24 December 1981, a new chapter began at Air Base No. 5 with the arrival of first nine A-7P Corsair II fighter aircraft. The number eventually grew to 20, and these aircraft formed 302 Attack Squadron, taking on the symbols and traditions of the 51 Squadron "''Falcões''." On 28 June 1984, during a meeting of the

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

Commission of Infrastructures in Brussels, Monte Real was formally accepted as NATO infrastructure to be equipped with two attack squadrons of A-7P aircraft and a future interceptor squadron. On the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of Monte Real Air Base, 4 October 1984, the 304 Attack Squadron was officially activated and became the second attack squadron with A-7P aircraft. This squadron became the heir of the traditions, symbols, and deeds of the 93 Squadron "''Magníficos''" (Magnificents), deactivated at Air Base No. 9, in 1973 in Luanda, Africa.On 4 October 1993, the 201 Squadron was activated and equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters. This squadron resumed the

air defence Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...

mission, and inherited the traditions and symbol of the "''Falcões''." On 25 November 2005, 301 Squadron was transferred to Air Base No. 5 from Air Base No. 11 in Beja and received the first F-16 fighters upgraded with the Mid-Life Update (F-16AM and F-16BM) of the Portuguese Air Force. The squadron maintained the symbols and traditions of the "''Jaguares''" ( Jaguars). Work on the PoAF's F-16 Mid-Life Update program is carried out at the workshops at Monte Real Air Base, namely the facilities designated as dock 4 ( pt, Doca 4), as well the flight testing of the upgraded aircraft.

Tenant units

Monte Real Air Base hosts the 51st Operational Group (GO51). The GO51's operational fighter squadrons are: * 201 Fighter Squadron "''Falcões''" (Falcons) * 301 Fighter Squadron "''Jaguares''" (Jaguars) Both squadrons fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Former tenant units

* 51 Squadron "''Falcões''" (1959–1978) * 52 Squadron "''Roosters''" (1959–1961) * E.I.C.P.A.C. (1974–1987) * 302 Squadron (1981–1996) * 304 Squadron (1984–1999)

Infrastructures

The base has one runway: * Ident.: 01/19 * QFU: 007º/187º * LDA: 8,000 ft / 2.438 m * TORA: 9,000 ft / 2.743 m * Width: 148 ft / 45 m * ILS: Yes * PCN: 027RAWT There are four main apron areas (A1 to D1) on the East side of the base, and some twenty parking bays on the west side.

References

* * * *

External links