Barcelona has hosted its own airshow for 20 years now, and has grown in recent years into a sizeable international event with a varied line-up that would put many of the UK's shows to shame - and all this for free. This in one of Europe's most cultural and historic cities, it seems Festa al Cel has all the ingredients for a dream airshow.
With a strong Spanish contingent including CL-215, Puma and Patrulla Aguila alongside a number of foreign display teams such as F-16 demonstrations from Belgium and Holland and the possibility of appearances from a Eurocopter Tigre, A400M, Rafale and participation from the USAF (sadly none of which actually confirmed for the show) I wondered why there wasn't more interest from the UK's airshow-going public, especially with Barcelona being just a short flight away and with many airlines providing low cost flights.
The weekend started well for us at Barcelona El Prat airport as our easyJet Airbus A320 parked next to rows of F-16s, Alpha Jets and F-5s, all of which were based at the airport for the weekend. However, any visions of a private night-shoot with the aircraft whilst waiting for the bus to the terminal were killed off before the camera had even left the bag, with one of the airport ground handlers none too keen on the idea - the frantic arm waving definitely resembled the international sign language for "No Photos! It was a shame really as we then spent 45 minutes waiting for our suitcase. Conscious that we had an early start the next day for the display rehearsals, we headed straight to our hotel and got some well-deserved rest.
Saturday was practice day on the beachfront, so we ventured out along the Barcelona coast to catch some of the displays. The day didn't get off to the smoothest of starts when two local thieves attempted to get themselves a new camera, but thankfully I was alert and my camera remained firmly my property. This could happen anywhere of course but seem to be something which Barcelona has a particular reputation for so be careful with your belongings if you visit.
Practices on the day included familiar, to UK airshow goers, displays from the Breitling Wingwalkers and both the Belgian and Dutch F-16 demo teams. In a reversal of what we've seen all year, over the weekend I thought the RNLAF demo was much sharper and polished than its BAF counterpart, but more of that later.
On location as an emergency aircraft for the displays was a Guardia Civil Eurocopter EC135, parked leisurely on one the piers with the public allowed to casually mill around the aircraft and chat to the crew - an opportunity that is rarely available at the UK's many seaside venues.
Other rehearsals included two items that I had been really looking forward to; a SAR (Search And Rescue) demonstration from a Spanish Air Force SA330J Puma from 801 Escuadron on the island of Mallorca and a water-bombing role demonstration courtesy of the magnificent CL-215. This was the first time I'd seen either of these aircraft perform, and the opening flypast from the Puma really set the tempo for its routine. Running in low along the coast, pulling up at crowd centre, pushing the nose down and descending rapidly before stabilising in the hover, creating a whirlwind of spray from the Mediterranean Ocean below - not the worst start to a display!
The routine that followed was described by my dad as, "possibly the best SAR display I've ever seen." The demonstration featured the dropping of the rescue diver, winching him and the casualty back into the aircraft, a sprinkling of aerobatics and the pilot seemingly having a great time, flying low and fast.
Still impressed by the awesomeness of the Puma, we almost missed the CL-215 running in along the display line on its first pass of another display where it looked like the crew was having a great time; multiple water drops along with water pick-ups and some very sporty turns to reposition kept the aircraft in front of the crowd constantly - not an easy job for an aircraft of that size.
By the time the rehearsals had finished it was nearing 40 degrees and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, many would say this was perfect airshow weather… that is up for debate when it is that hot though!
Sunday, show day, arrived and by the time we got to the "Spotters' Pier" at 11am, the temperature was already in the mid-30s. The tables, chairs and sun umbrellas laid out on the pier by the organisers for our use were greatly appreciated and a really nice touch.
This dedicated area for photographers, accessible at no extra cost but only available through a selection/invitation process, was a welcome addition and something we don't see much in the UK. That said, some additional toilets would have been welcomed as the nearest set was a good ten minute walk away and the queues for them were horrendous!
The flying display started at noon with the Breitling Jets. A questionable decision by the organisers to open with a jet formation team possibly, but I think it was a good move as anyone in the area that didn't know about the show, certainly knew about it then as the crowds on the beaches and promenades increased in size rapidly. Sadly their smoke seemed heavier than the smoke used by other display aircraft and, with the lack of wind, it just lingered in the air creating a white haze for the next few acts.
The first of those saw a flypast by two DA42 Twin Stars from the local flying club. Whilst lacking the 'wow factor' of a display aircraft it's always nice to see something different with the show, and local general aviation community, supporting each other.
Continuing the slow pace was a three-ship display of 'paramotors', something very different and while the skill and showmanship demonstrated shouldn't be knocked, a ten minute display slot might have been a tad excessive for an act of that nature.
After the paramotors had safely landed on the beach, a mighty balbo of nine aircraft appeared on the horizion, running in along the display line, led by a Piper Cub with banner in tow advertising the Barcelona flying club. Three R22 helicopters followed in loose formation with a mixed formation of five of the flying school's fixed winged assets.
First of the Spanish military displays was a parachute display from the Spanish Air Force's PAPEA (Patrulla Paracaidista del Ejército del Aire) team, jumping from a CN-235. Their combination of freefalling and formation work was lapped up by the Spanish crowd, with the whole beach practically moving as one towards the drop zone as they landed.
The military theme continued with the Patrouille de France performing up to its usual high standard in the clear blue skies above the beaches. I remember being rather unimpressed by the French team a few years back but their display at Barcelona really changed my opinion of them; sharp manoeuvres and a well-designed routine. Top marks!
Next up some warbird action and the "Fundació Parc Aeronautic de Catalunya". Based at Sabadell Airport, this is a large collection of airworthy historic aircraft and multiple airframes from the collection completed flypasts along the display lines while a very shiny T-6 Texan performed a short, sharp, aerobatic routine with a number of low, fast topside passes. As the Texan was completing his last pass, the next display item - the Spanish Puma - was running in low and fast from the opposite direction to begin its excellent SAR demo.
As mentioned previously this was a fantastic spectacle and the crew deserves maximum respect for the enthusiasm demonstrated. The helicopter was thrown around with more energy on Sunday than I've ever seen any helicopter display!
A quick flypast from an Airbus A320 from Vueling provided a minute of calm during the display before another international display team took to the stage - the Patrouille Suisse, returning to the Spanish coast for the first time in eight years, with the team's six F-5s sporting their familiar patriotic red and white colour scheme. With the F-5 being louder than other trainer types, the team certainly has a larger presence in the skies and their use of flares definitely adds plenty of excitement and flair (excuse the pun) into the team's routine.
Having the tough job of following the Swiss was Victor Chmel with the first of two aerobatic displays sponsored by the Volga-Dnepr group. Joining Chmel was Svetlana Kapanina, and both previous World Aerobatic champions flew impressive routines in Sukhoi Su-29s.
Raising the tempo was the familiar sight of the "Orange Lion" running in low and fast in max reheat - this is how an F-16 should be displayed. This was 'Hitec's' final airshow appearance as RNLAF F-16 Demo Pilot and he definitely went out in style. The display was much sharper and closer than we saw at Fairford this year with the noise of the Falcon certainly waking up anyone having their siesta! As a tribute to the fact it was his final display, on his last pass, just beyond crowd centre, he pulled the jet up into the vertical, hit the afterburners and fired a huge salvo of flares as he climbed away; an awesome sight!
Another orange aircraft followed - in fact, a pair of them. The Breitling Wingwalkers are a regular sight at many UK shows with their graceful display, which proved just as popular with the Spanish photographers… or was that just the girls on top of each Stearman?
The penultimate display from the Spanish military was the CL-215. The huge advantage of having the show on the seafront is of course the fact that the water bomber can give the Spanish public a demonstration of almost exactly what the aircraft can do. For such a bulky aircraft it looked surprisingly graceful as it floated inches above the sea. It was a mightily impressive display, and, with the onshore breeze doing its best to carry as much of the dropped water onto those on the spotters pier and the VIPs on the other pier, we were even given brief respite from the 40 degree Mediterranean sun. As the yellow Canadair disappeared into the distance, it was time for some more afterburning action, this time courtesy of the Belgian F-16 display.
As on the Saturday, the display didn't seem quite as sharp as we've seen throughout the 2011 season but that said it was still a fine demonstration with the jet trying to squeeze every available drop of moisture from the hot Mediterranean air.
Following the BAF Viper was a "flypast" by another Airbus A320, this time from Spanair. This pilot had a different idea, giving us a full display with topside passes, tight turns, a gear down pass, performance climb and some crazy angles of bank that you simply don't expect to see an airliner performing at. Top marks for effort! It certainly opened my eyes to what can be achieved with an airliner display at an airshow (RIAT and Flybe take note!).
With the show coming to a close, another aerobatic solo followed the A320, in the shape of an Extra 300S from the French Air Force, painted in the colours of the Tricolore, it was displayed with energy and excitement with a tight routine and some very impressing stalling and tumbling manoeuvres.
But there is only one act that could close an airshow in Spain: the Patrulla Águila. With the red and yellow smoke that the seven CASA 101 Aviojets were emitting creating a huge Spanish flag in the sky, a tangible sense of national pride could be felt from the Spanish people. The 25 minute routine that followed was brilliantly choreographed, with something always happening right in front of the crowd. It highlighted how much of a shame it was that they couldn't perform at RIAT this year due to the weather conditions - a total contrast to those experienced here in Barcelona where everyone performed under a cloudless blue sky.
Festa al Cel 2011 was certainly a 'different' airshow experience for me, packing sun cream and not waterproofs, having the "spotters' area" at no extra cost and also the vast variety of aircraft on display. Whilst the flypasts from the local flying club's aircraft may not have been the loudest, fastest or best displays, I thought they were a really nice touch and something that we could see more of at shows in the UK.
The official attendance figure for this year's show was 420,000, a staggering number for a one-day show, which shows that the organisers are certainly doing something right. However, it didn't come without its disadvantages: shooting into the sun at some points, lack of Spanish fast jet displays - similar to the situation back in the UK - some disappointing cancellations and the personal security situation, but both myself and my dad left the show feeling really pleased with the weekend. Certainly the amazing weather helped but the venue, excellent flying and good company created what was a memorable and enjoyable weekend - this definitely won't be my last trip to a European airshow!
2011-10-11 - Dunk
Well written article Reoch Snr & Jnr, great photos which give you a good feel of the show
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