Rosa María García-Malea López (born 1981) became the first female fighter pilot in the

Spanish Air Force The Spanish Air and Space Force () is the aerial and space warfare branch of the Spanish Armed Forces. History Early stages Hot air balloons have been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Al ...

after qualifying to fly jet fighter aircraft in 2006.

Early life

Rosa García-Malea López was born in 1981 in

Almería Almería (, , ) is a city and municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain, located in Andalusia. It is the capital of the province of Almería, province of the same name. It lies in southeastern Iberian Peninsula, Iberia on the Mediterranean S ...

, Spain.

Military service

García-Malea is one of the first female fighter pilots in the

qualified to fly

F/A-18 Hornet The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather supersonic, twinjet, twin-engine, carrier-based aircraft, carrier-capable, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole combat aircraft, designed as both a Fighter aircraft, fighter and attack airc ...

, With more than 1,250 flight hours and after participating in the Libyan war in 2011, after 15 years service in Spanish air force, she joined

Patrulla Águila (Spanish for "Eagle Patrol"), formed 4 July 1985, is the aerobatic demonstration team of the Spanish Air and Space Force. It is based at San Javier Air Base at the location of the academy of officers of the Spanish Air and Space Force, near M ...

the aerobatic demonstration team as a

Casa C-101 The CASA C-101 Aviojet is a low-wing single engine jet engine, jet-powered advanced trainer (aircraft), trainer and Ground-attack aircraft, light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Spanish aircraft company Construcciones Aeronáuticas ...

pilot. In 2018 she was awarded the Medalla de Andalucía for her achievements.

References

1981 births Living people Spanish Air and Space Force People from Almería {{Spain-mil-bio-stub Spanish women aviators