Spanish Air Force’s Patrulla Águila celebrated its 40th anniversary. Officially named AIRE25
On June 14–15, 2025, the Spanish Air Force celebrated the 40th anniversary of Patrulla Águila with AIRE25, the largest aviation event held in Spain in more than a decade. As expected, the Aviation PhotoCrew was part of the programme, with our #8 Peng involved from the earliest planning stages. Acting as a visual consultant and working alongside the organisers, he ensured that air-to-air photography was embedded into the event from the outset, allowing historic formations to be documented from the air.
The original plan called for the Bronco to be used as the air-to-air photoship, but a minor incident involving the pilot made this impossible at short notice. The Spanish Air Force instead assigned a C-295 transport aircraft, which proved to be an excellent alternative. Its higher cruising speed allowed us to operate consistently between 200 and 210 knots, opening up far more possibilities for complex formations and timing-critical join-ups. The C-295 crew played a crucial role throughout the project, and a prior connection—Peng had photographed the same crew during Sanicole 2023—helped establish immediate understanding and trust in the air.
The first major formation was a historic three-ship: F-86 Sabre, CASA C-101, and Pilatus PC-21. This lineup told the complete story of Spanish military aerobatic display teams, from the short-lived Patrulla ASCUA of 1956, through Patrulla Águila’s four-decade history with the C-101, to the PC-21, widely expected to form the basis of Spain’s future display team. The formation carried strong symbolic weight, marking both heritage and transition.
The most technically demanding mission followed: a seven-ship international formation led by Patrulla Águila’s C-101, joined by aircraft from Patrouille de France, Patrouille Suisse, and Frecce Tricolori, alongside the Greek Zeus F-16 and Spanish fighters from ALA11 (Eurofighter Typhoon) and ALA12 (F-18). Five nations and seven aircraft types flew together in tribute to Patrulla Águila’s farewell. Peng had just twenty minutes to complete the entire sequence—join-up, refinement, and photography—with no margin for error. Each of the fighter jets also performed solo passes, including ultra-close profiles and flare deployments, adding intensity to an already historic flight.
Additional highlights included Chinook and Tiger helicopter operations, rare air-to-air opportunities with the F-5, soon to be retired after fifty years of service, and a final, highly sensitive mission: a two-ship PC-21 formation carrying His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain. After the King completed a familiarisation flight, the photography window was reduced to just ten minutes. Once joined, Peng politely asked if the King would remove his visor and wave to the camera—a request he graciously accepted, resulting in unique and personal portraits. The project concluded as an unforgettable air-to-air achievement, made possible by the trust and support of the Spanish Air and Space Force and their confidence in Peng and the Aviation PhotoCrew.
