medical evacuation. The aircraft of the Air
Intelligence Centre and its 408 Escuadrón,
operating a further Boeing 707, one CASA
212-100 Aviocar and two Dassault Falcon
20s, which undertakes electronic warfare
(EW) and intelligence gathering duties as
well as radar calibration, were placed under
the control of 47 Grupo. The three transport
707s were assigned to 471 Escuadrón while
another example, TM.17-4/47-04, which will
be described later on and is used for EW
and intelligence gathering, was also re-
allocated to this unit. The CASA and Falcon
20s went to 472 Escuadrón.
The three transport 707s were modified
and among the changes were that they
converted to a mixed cargo and passenger
configuration, plus a large cargo door was
installed in the forward left hand side of the
fuselage. This eases the loading of cargo
and is also useful in the medical evacuation
role for the boarding of stretchers and
related equipment.
Aircraft, T.17-1 was re-serialled TK.17-1
(now coded 47-01), painted grey and then
mainly used as a tanker, while the other
two (47-02 and 47-03) have kept their colour
schemes of white with a red band.TANKER
The Spanish Air Force’s only tankers for
most of the 1980s were the KC-130Hs of
Ala 31. However, the type lacked speed,
range and the necessary fuel-carrying
capacity to adequately meet the needs
of the RF-4C Phantom, Mirage F1, EF-18
Hornet and the Arma Aérea de la Armada’s22 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft February 2016Above: The cockpit of one of the 707s used in the VIP role. Ejército del Aire
Below: The tanking capability of the 707s gave the Spanish Air Force enhanced expeditionary
capability. Ejército del AireWhile two of the 707s were undertaking VIP duties the fleet was assigned to 45 Grupo, note
the code on the rear fuselage. On relinquishing this role they were transferred to 47 Grupo.
AirTeamImages.com/Carl Ford20-24_707sDC.mfDC.indd 22 30/12/2015 16:40