Festval Aéreo de Motril, Sunday 11th June 2023.

[viscount]

FESTIVAL AÉREO DE MOTRIL XVII, Sunday 11th June 2023.
Costa Tropical, Southern Spain.

Unfortunately nothing like the quality of the display last year. For a display over the period 1100 to 1500 there were just 10 display routines between 1115 and 1450, so some long gaps. Which didn't worry most of the public spread out along the beach in 28º of pleasant sunshine and a gentle breeze. For me it was all rather slow and drawn out, a feeling exacerbated by the Spanish habit of grouping similar display routines to operate consecutively. So helicopter followed helicopter, civilian aerobatics to an extent followed each other, then after 1325 all the routines where military, so a Slovenian PC-9M was followed by a pair of French PC-21s, Belgian F-16 by a Spanish Typhoon, then a 30 minute long routine by the Spanish Air Force team ended the display. No helicopter landings on the land behind the beach (in great clouds of dust) at all this year.

No pair of Spanish 337 Super Skymasters, no Spanish helicopter 'Team Aspa', no water-drop routine from a Canadair CL-415 in the display programme, all regular and entertaining to watch participants at Costa del Sol/Costa Tropical beachfront air displays. Two items on the display list cancelled, the British Royal Navy with a Merlin helicopter (notified in advance) while Infoca with a Kamov Ka-32A (now that I was looking forward to!) was a 'no show'.

Last year they had a Polish Mig-29A Fulcrum, a French Airbus A.400M, a Spanish Navy AV-8A Matador, SH-60 Seahawk and Spanish Army Tigre and Caiman helicopters, so perhaps my expectations for this year were a raised a too little high! Still a beach-front display with Dutch, French, Slovenian along with the host's national air force participation can't be bad!

This year, in order of appearance:

								
EC-LOS		Eurocopter EC.135P2	    National Policia	   Call-sign 'Angel 31'
HU26-13	09-317	Eurocopter EC.135P2	    Guardia Civil	
EC-YCH		Sadler Vampir		
EC-IFJ	214-107	Hispaneo HA.220 Super Saeta		           In 1950s Air Force period desert camouflage scheme
EC-LFP	207	Agusta Westland AW.139	    Salvamento Maritimo    Air-sea rescue, winch rescue demos	
F-GGYB		CAP-10C	                    Camilo Benito	
F-HMEL		Extra EA.330C	            Melanie Astles	
L9-65		Pilatus PC-9M	            Slovenian Air Force	
01	709-FC	Pilatus PC-21	            French Armee de l'aire	
15	709-FQ	Pilatus PC-21	            French Armee de l'aire	
FA-67		F-16A MLU Falcon	    Belgian Air Force      'Viper' special solo aerobatic scheme	
C.16-22	11-22	Eurofighter C.16 Tifón	    Spanish Air Force	
		team of 6 x CASA.101	    Spanish Air Force	   Patrullla Áquila', coded 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7.

In the long spells between aviation activity it was fun to watch two Guardia Civil patrol vessels keeping jet-skis, motor-boats and yachts away from the sterile display zone offshore.



Even though the camera misread my intentions, so focused on the crowd and umbrellas rather than the passing freight ferry out of the port of Motril for Morocco, anyone aboard would have had a good view of the Belgian F-16A display.









First on were law enforcement helicopters. The National Policia Eurocopter patrolled up and down the beach a couple of times, followed by display of turns and sideways flying by the Guardia Civil - at one stage overturning dozens of beach umbrellas and gazebo tents. Best laugh of the afternoon.





A familiar annual sight at both Motril and Torre del Mar sea-front displays, the Sadler Vampir ULM. Flown, or more accurately, thrown around the sky with great energy, but very quietly at slow speed.





Spain does not have a thriving airworthy 'historic aircraft' scene, however this aircraft is an indigenous '50s ground attack aircraft, a Hispano HA.220 Super Saeta in full period colours and markings, but also carries a Spanish civil registration. A series of relatively gentle passes, with very little use of the throttle.





The Salamento Maritimo flew a lengthy air-sea rescue routine using this Agusta-Westland AW.139, EC-LFP/207. Mind you from where I had 'made camp' the display was behind a 'Cheringito' (beach restaurant) so was heard but not seen (or photographed!) for long periods in the hover.







A combination of pair and solo aerobatics flown by Camilo Benito in CAP-10C F-GGYB and Melanie Astles in an Extra EA.330C, F-HMEL. The difference in aerobatic capabilities of the two types, several generations of design apart was apparent.



Newcomer, a Slovenian PC-9 in dark colours was silhouetted against the bright sky much of the time. The display was flown slightly further away from the beach and was shorter than other routines during the afternoon.







The pair of French Armée de l'air blue painted Pilatus PC-21s put on a great routine of pair and single flying demonstrations.











The Belgian F.16 "The Viper" put on a brilliant, well planned solo display. Just when your interest waned as he turned high after a pass, he flung out group of flares to get your attention back! The routine was constantly pulling twin plumes of 'moisture' flare - even managed to out-do the Typhoon in that respect. Highly entertaining and without doubt the outstanding routine of the afternoon. Don't ever recall seeing an undercarriage down pass 'pulling' moisture plumes before!





The Spanish Eurofighter C-16 Tifon followed on very slickly from the F-16, so much so that the highly partisan crowd did not realise they should clap to show appreciation after each clever manoeuvre. Nothing like as prolific (but more aircraft encompassing) 'moisture' flare on turns and fast passes than the F-16. Climbed directly into, or flew across, the sun far too frequently - which was annoying.









The 6 CASA-101s Aviojets of the Spanish 'Patrulla Áquila' were disappointing. Their display stretched to 30 minutes and a great deal of the time flew tight, accurate formations - but well out to sea forming great patterns in the sky, but with ever increasing gaps while they reformed back into a new formation. Towards the end, some inventive passes - so grabbed my camera's attention. A formation of 4 being barrel rolled by two singletons - with probably around 10 barrel rolls completed in a long curving pass was impressive. Towards the end a number of mirror formation passes, culminating in a 6-ship mirror formation pass, which was quite confusing to the eye.

Very worthwhile going the hour from home to see, but if I had travelled further, I would have been rather disappointed. My next Spanish air show is even nearer to home, at Torre del Mar, in early September. It does surprise me that other resorts around the long Spanish coastline have not started their own air events, as it seems around Britain there is now a water-front display every other weekend somewhere around the country during the summer months.

To compare with the same event in 2022: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/40535/motril-seafront-display-costa-tropical