The Portuguese Air Force bid farewell to the Alpha Jet after close to 25 years of service with 103 Sqn, 301 Sqn and the "Asas de Portugal" display team.
About 50 spotters were allowed on base to witness the last flight (not really...) of the last 6 aircraft (15206, 15208, 15211, 15226, 15236 and 15250).
Despite the unstable weather and mostly backlight conditions, we were able to capture some shots. Here's a taste.
Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter event
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Snakeye
- Posts: 13
- Joined: 19 Mar 2011, 19:52
- Type of spotter: F2 - MIL
- Subscriber Scramble: Andre Carvalho
- Location: Portugal
Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter event
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Best regards,
André Carvalho
André Carvalho
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Snakeye
- Posts: 13
- Joined: 19 Mar 2011, 19:52
- Type of spotter: F2 - MIL
- Subscriber Scramble: Andre Carvalho
- Location: Portugal
Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
The six Alpha Jets after landing.
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Best regards,
André Carvalho
André Carvalho
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Snakeye
- Posts: 13
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- Type of spotter: F2 - MIL
- Subscriber Scramble: Andre Carvalho
- Location: Portugal
Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
A C-295M used for an air2air shoot with the formation.
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Best regards,
André Carvalho
André Carvalho
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Alpha Kilo One
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Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
Still love the little one:( . It's like they could go on for ages still......!
"Nix bliev wie it es"
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Bennie
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Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
They're still going strong in Canada!Alpha Kilo One wrote:Still love the little one:( . It's like they could go on for ages still......!
Ben
Scramble member, reader & contributor since 1984
Scramble member, reader & contributor since 1984
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Stratofreighter
/reeve.gif)
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Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
...a bit of a "mixed bag", colour scheme wise. 
Thanks for putting your pictures up!
Thanks for putting your pictures up!
November 2024 update at FokkerNews.nl....
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Snakeye
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Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
We do too. Great looking aircraft and suited for their missions. We will miss them, but they are expensive to maintain due to their unique engines.Alpha Kilo One wrote:Still love the little one:( . It's like they could go on for ages still......!
And they look sharp in that blue c/s too.Bennie wrote:They're still going strong in Canada!
You're welcome. Need to use an external server though, like Flickr, as the 800px attachment limit is a bit small.Stratofreighter wrote:...a bit of a "mixed bag", colour scheme wise.
Thanks for putting your pictures up!
Regarding the colour schemes, I am glad the last ones have such diversity. The first tiger scheme a/c (15428) was also preserved after some years on display.
Unfortunately the reestablishment of the "Asas de Portugal" display team lead to many aircraft being painted in that NASCAR like c/s and other airframes with the wraparound tactical c/s were fased out progressively.
One major loss on that ocasion was the second tiger aircraft (in fact a jaguar), as 301 Jaguars moved on to the F-16. It was the first aircraft (15250) to get the AdP colours.
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Best regards,
André Carvalho
André Carvalho
Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
Nice shots, absolutely gutted though, that I didn't know about this event as I was working in Portugal (Evora) and had the 13/01 as a day off 
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Stratofreighter
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Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
Afterwards I found some kind of "accepted spotters list" on the official Portuguese Air Force website.Sullivan wrote:Nice shots, absolutely gutted though, that I didn't know about this event as I was working in Portugal (Evora) and had the 13/01 as a day off
There were only 60 places available
and many more applications.
I suppose some kind of "lottery" was used
November 2024 update at FokkerNews.nl....
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Snakeye
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Re: Beja LPBJ 2018-01-13 - Alpha Jet last flight spotter eve
The event was publicly announced by the air force, both on Facebook and their website. Enrollment was done by email a day later (if I recall correctly), from 00h00. It was done on a first come first served basis (no lottery), and so was full at around 00h02. 
Portuguese spotter events are smaller (due to the logistical nightmare), so you get to go to better locations and move around to get to a better position for shots. That was not possible with this event, as it was on a weekend and there were parallel celebrations for the military on site (appron and squadron facilities).
Portuguese spotter events are smaller (due to the logistical nightmare), so you get to go to better locations and move around to get to a better position for shots. That was not possible with this event, as it was on a weekend and there were parallel celebrations for the military on site (appron and squadron facilities).
Best regards,
André Carvalho
André Carvalho