Today, Tuesday , October 12, the National Holiday or Hispanic Day is celebrated and among the moments that stand out most within the official acts that commemorate this day is the presence in the air of the Eagle Patrol, but why is it? Does this patrol correspond and why does it participate in the parade on October 12?
What is the Eagle Patrol and why is it participating in the Hispanic Day parade?
October 12 is the day on which we celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of America by Spain as well as the beginning of the Spanish Empire. A day marked in our calendar as a national holiday and that although for years it was called Hispanic Day, currently it is referred to as the National Holiday.
There are several events that take place around October 12, although the most prominent and important is the military parade of the different units of the Spanish Army, with the presence of the Kings of Spain and other prominent members of the world of politics.
During the past year and due to the epidemiological situation caused by Covid-19, these acts were reduced to a reception at the Royal Palace, but this year the military parade will take place on Paseo de la Castellana (although with restrictions) and Also of course, at the beginning of the celebration we will see how the Eagle Patrol takes to the skies.
This is an air unit of the Spanish Army that during its participation in this October 12 will draw the flag of Spain in the skies , something that they have been rehearsing since last September 29.
History of the Eagle Patrol
The Eagle Patrol was created in 1985 as the acrobatic unit of the Spanish Air Force as a result of the efforts of different professionals belonging to the General Air Academy. Its main mission, as explained on the website of the Ministry of Defense, is to represent Spain and the Air Force in different events . For this, their main mission is to “paint” the sky with the colors of our flag and also spread their slogan: “Jucti Sed Non Uncti” (Together, but not scrambled).
Since its creation, the Eagle Patrol has already accumulated more than 25,000 flight hours, taking part in all kinds of events both nationally and internationally and not only military, but also civil as well as sporting events. The first time they represented the flag of Spain in the sky was in 1992 in Seville and precisely on the occasion of Hispanic Day.
At first, it only had five pilots but their number was increased to reach the 7 usual pilots that it has had since 1987 . Over time, the Eagle Patrol aircraft, some C-101 Aviojet E.25, which are known militarily as E-25 “Blackbird” , incorporated the smoke system and changed the design of the aircraft paintings to place some that are inspired by the Ascua Patrol, which was an acrobatic flight group of the Air Force that stopped flying in 1965.
The Eagle Patrol pilots, the seven incumbents and the reserves, are all flight teachers belonging to the 793 squadron of the General Air Academy. In turn, the team is divided into three flight sectors: the Rombo, which has the leader and three more aviators; the Pair, formed by two pilots; and the Solo, who is in charge of leaving the formation and carries out the most risky maneuvers in the airshows.
