Good November fellow EUROAVIAns,
It has been a busy month here in Sevilla, our local group has visited a military base; the National Institute of Aerospace Technology, INTA; and Babcock, a company dedicated to helicopter testing and maintenance.
We started the month visiting the Spanish air force military base located in “Moron de la Frontera”, one of the most expected trips every year. The entries for the trip were sold out in just 10 minutes! In there, we could see the daily routine of the armed forces and people working in the base. They showed us the simulators where pilots train and we had the privilege to see them testing an Eurofighter engine. After a short break for breakfast, only the most exciting part of the visit remained… meeting their war-flying machines. We were surprised when suddenly we entered a big hangar where we discovered at least 8 Eurofighter Typhoons. Members could see the interior of those fighter aircraft and talk with the mechanics of those machines. Finally, we went to the interior of a P-3 Orion, a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. It excels in search and rescue missions. This one was built around 1968 and retired from service last year. Talking with mechanics from this fantastic aircraft made us notice the affection they had after several years of working with it. It was for sure an unforgettable experience for our enthusiastic members.
Then, we organized a visit to INTA, a technology center dedicated to aerospace research. First, we could see their experimental aircraft, a complete carbon monocoque, a small electric prototype, and a series of small airplanes designed for missile testing. Afterward, they showed us the platforms where they launch their planes, furthermore, we had the luck to see the first test of the fire extinguisher version of the A400M, which threw 40 tons of water in front of us.
To end the month, we visited Babcock, located near our university, where a small group of members saw how helicopters work in depth and how they are maintained.
This has been November for AS Sevilla, we hope you enjoyed reading the article.
See you around Europe!
AS Sevilla