prepare for these missions, instructors provide
information on the flight profile (navigation route,
turning points, fuel status and desired time-
over-target). A ‘fair’ margin in navigation/timing
accuracy is permitted, due to the students’
relative inexperience. Nevertheless, the IPs
continuously evaluate airmanship, and change
the required airspeed and time-over-target
in the course of these navigation missions.
Once familiar with the local ground references
around Sintra, students, joined by their
instructors, fly longer-range navigations to
the FAP’s various operational bases – Monte
Real, Montijo and Beja. These technical
stopovers also give the students first-hand
experience of life on an operational unit.
The eight-mission formation flying course
calls for basic manoeuvring as a two-ship,
including various formation profiles, turns and
re-joins as well as formation landings and take-
offs. These missions are equally split between
flight lead and wingman position, always
flown from the front seat and assisted by an
experienced IP in the back. For deconfliction
with the co-located Esquadra 101, the two
squadrons use different flying training areas
and altitudes and – more importantly –
different entry points and landing patterns.
Before final graduation from the AFA, all
students – flying and non-flying – take several
Chipmunks to Ovar in the north of the country
for a week-long boot camp. Some extra training
missions will be flown here by the graduating
fifth-year students in preparation for their
transfer to Esquadra 101 and the Epsilon.
Since Esquadra 101 only initiates one
dedicated training course each year, AFA
students might have to remain on Esquadra
802 for several months. In this time,
they retain their flying capabilities on the
Chipmunk, depending on meteorological
conditions and the wider flying programme.
Esquadra 802 has established a fixed
flying programme to streamline operations.
Wednesdays are strictly reserved for ‘802’ staff
training, while afternoon flying is dedicated
to an individual year group: Monday is for the
second year, Tuesday third, Thursday fourth
and finally Friday first. Each day, morning flying
is reserved for fifth-year students, instructor
proficiency and continuation training for AFA
graduates prior to transfer to Esquadra 101.
IPs – together with the AFA staff – try to
keep all students focused on their flying-
related workload. Furthermore, they will
be re-routed to another career path if it’s
considered likely they will drop out of
initial flying training with Esquadra 101.Instructor training
and glider work
Traditionally, Esquadra 802 is staffed by up to
eight flying instructors, reinforced if needed
by ‘guest’ instructors (including the AFA
commander). Until recently, joining the Esquadra
802 cadre required previous assignment to
and instructor qualification from Esquadra 101.
Nowadays the majority of IPs originate from the
co-located Esquadra 101 or from Esquadra 502,
which flies C295M transports out of BA6 Montijo.IPs assigned to Esquadra 802 for an
(extendable) three-year posting undergo
an 18-hour course, including ten hours of
contact, three hours of navigation and finally
three hours of formation flying. Sorties are
evenly split between the front and back seat.
In addition to six remaining Chipmunks,
‘802’ also operates three ASK 21 gliders.
Gliding for AFA students and instructors
is regularly organised at Sintra, using the
Chipmunks as glider tugs. The aircraft
tows the glider up to 3,000ft (914m) on a
262ft-long (80m) cable which is dropped
by the IP at the beginning of the runway,
allowing a full landing run on the remainder.Maintaining the Chipmunk
Esquadra 802’s daily flying operations are
supported by a small but well-equipped
maintenance section staffed by 18 people.
This takes care of the six Chipmunks to ensure
they can fly 1,000 flying hours annually.
One of the upgraded Chipmunks (c/n
01312) was destroyed on March 17, 1998
during a take-off accident at Sintra. Neither
of the occupants – an Angolan student and
Portuguese instructor – were injured.
The Chipmunk maintenance programme
is well established, with various pre-
planned inspections at intervals of 50,
100 and 300 hours. A more intensive
structural midlife update (SMLU) is carried
out at Sintra after every 600 hours.
The SMLU focuses on structural verification of
the airframe (including rudder and ailerons) and
replacement of the aluminium wing/fuselage
structure with steel to improve airframe stiffness
and G-tolerance. This work requires removal
and replacement of the fuel tank and all airframe
rivets. The Chipmunk maintenance section
combines its SMLU workload with daily and
emergency maintenance to ensure availability
on the flight line. Engine overhaul is outsourced
to Easy Fly, based at nearby Cascais Airport.
In an era marked by rationalisation
and efficiency, the Chipmunk will
remain a vital asset within the FAP
for several decades to come.AFMChipmunk serial 1339 breaks
towards the camera ship. Seven
Chipmunks were upgraded but one
was unfortunately written off in an
accident in 1998.Above: Maintainers work on serial 1315 (OGMA-05) in a Sintra hangar. The squadron’s mechanics are also
in close contact with the Chipmunk vintage aircraft community around the globe.http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #369 DECEMBER 2018 // 43