King Felipe visits European Tactical Airlift Centre

King Felipe of Spain has visited the European Tactical Airlift Centre at the Zaragoza Air Base and the Ablitas Military Aerodrome in Navarre.

At the Zaragoza Air Base, King Felipe was received by he Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles; the Secretary of State for Defense, Amparo Valcarce; the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Space Force, Air General Francisco Braco; the Commander of the Zaragoza Air Base, Brigadier General Pascual Soria; and the head of the national component of the European Tactical Airlift Centre, Colonel Carlos Enrique Herráiz.

Photo: © Casa de S.M. el Rey

He took a group photo with the crews after receiving honours from the military guard. Once inside, he witnessed a presentation of the European Tactical Airlift Centre, which is a multinational centre for tactical airlift training. Afterwards, he toured the facilities. He then boarded a helicopter, which took him to the Ablitas Military Aerodrome in Navarre. During the flight, a joint patrol of German and Spanish paratroopers parachuted from the aircraft. 

At the Ablitas Military Airfield, the King attended a tactical flight briefing and a demonstration of the Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities of a Predator unmanned aircraft.