Edelweiss

If this wasn't a blog dedicated to aviation, just by looking at the title of this message you could think that I would be writing about a flower (although it's somehow related), a beer, a grape type, a glider model among many other things. But no, today I'm writing about Edelweiss Air (which logo it's a edelweiss flower which is the origin of the airline name) that made it's premiere in LPMA/FNC.
It arrived at 11:41 from Zurich as flight WK284 and was entitled to a water cannon salute and the passengers were gifted with some souvenirs. Departed about one hour later, also to Zurich, as flight WK285.
HB-IHZ / Airbus 320-214 / Edelweiss Air
Touchdown for the first time in LPMA.
Water cannon salute performed by Madeira airport fire brigade.
Rotating on rwy 05.

NATIONAL AEROBATIC TEAM TRAINING CAMP - Santa Cruz Airfield LPSC 05/03/2011

After two months away from plane spotting the comeback couldn't be better. A few days before Saturday I received an invitation, from a friend, for a visit to Santa Cruz airfield, as it was a great opportunity I accepted immediately. On Saturday as we arrived to LPSC I realized that it would be a great day, because the national aerobatic team would be training all day.

Now the photos.

LPSC / Santa Cruz Airfield

Santa Cruz is also home to Torres Vedras Airclub founded in 1946, but the airfield it self was built in 1931.

View over the ramp. Some spotters admiring the airplanes on display.

CS-AVA / Cessna 152 / Aeroclube de Torres Vedras (Airclub)

CS-AQX / Cessna 172 / Aeroclube de Torres Vedras (Airclub)

D-ERIT / Cessna 150 / Aeroclube de Torres Vedras (Airclub)

CS-AQQ & CS-DGE / Private

The CS-AQQ I'm positive it's a Piper Cub but the CS-DGE I haven't figured out yet.

I hope they can fly again one day.

CS-URA / Tecnam P92 Echo Super / Private

Pratt & Whitney R2000 Twin Wasp
It's not a plane but it used to be part on one. Probably came from a Douglas DC-4 or a Lockheed Constellation.

CS-AJC / Champion 7ECA Citabria / Private (www.citabria.pt.vu)
This one was a surprise to me. Built in 1969, still flying and still performing great aerobatic maneuvers.








And now the reason of our visit to LPSC.
N80LA / Extra 300S / LIMA ALPHA Aerobatic Team (www.limaalpha.com)
Pilot Lino Gonçalves equipping for the first flight of the day.
Just before getting in the cockpit.
Final adjustments.
Taxiing to runway 17.
Rolling down the runway.

These last two were taken after the last flight of the day at dusk, so the quality isn't that good.