Rotores de Portugal

Rotores de Portugal
The three Alouette III of the Rotores de Portugal
Active	April, 1976 to the Present
Country	Portugal
Branch	Portuguese Air Force
Type	Aerobatic team
Role	Helicopter flight demonstration
Size	5 Officers 6 Enlisted
Part of	Squadron 552
Base	No 11 Air Base, Beja, Portugal
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	Aérospatiale Alouette III

The Rotores de Portugal (Portuguese for "Rotors of Portugal") is a helicopter flight demonstration team created in 1976, operated by Esquadra 552 (Squadron 552) of the Portuguese Air Force, based in No 11 Air Base, Beja. They are the national helicopter display team of Portugal and use three Sud Aviation Alouette III.

In 1976, the aerobatic team Rotores de Portugal was created by order of the Air Force Chief of Staff (CEMFA) to represent the Portuguese Air Force in several festivals all over the country. The team operated for 18 years while integrated with the 102 Squadron Panchos, and flew a total of 41 demonstrations.

On the fifty-third anniversary of the Air Force, in 2005, the Rotores de Portugal were reactivated and integrated with the 552 Squadron, based at Beja Air Base.

Aircraft

File:Rotores e Toralla 2007.jpg

Aircraft	Origin	Squadron	Display Aircraft	Dates
Sud Aviation Alouette III	France	Squadron 33	4	1976—1980
		Squadron 102	2	1982—1992
		Squadron 111	4	1993—1994
		Squadron 552	2	2004—2005
		Squadron 552	3	2006—present

See also

• Asas de Portugal

External links

• Rotores de Portugal website (Portuguese)