Half a million people attended the exhibition

The faces of satisfaction in charge of Air V Festival Gijón, at its end with landfall of the Air Force parachutist carrying the national flag, could not be more eloquent as they toasted the next Festival, which, as recalled in his speech the President of the Aeronautical Circle Jesús Fernández Duro, coincide with the centenary of the first air show held in the city of Gijón. Coincide also recalled, with the centenary of the creation of the Spanish military aircraft and asked for any of the Asturian city roaming activities are organized for that purpose in 2011.

Also took the opportunity to present was military attache at the French Embassy to ask it in this sixth edition go to Gijón French Acrobatic Patrol air force in the neighboring country, one of the most outstanding military patrols today, in reason that the first participants in the 1911 air show in Gijón were French pilots : Leoncio Garnier and Pierre Lacombè.

(In this photo from the right, is the sixth edition toasting -2011 - Air Festival Gijón, Mrs. Mayor of the city Paz Fernández Felgueroso, the Director of RR. Institutional Cajastur-sponsor "Cesar Menendez Claverol, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, José Jiménez Ruiz and President of Aeronautical Circle Felguera Jose-David Vigil-Escalera Balbona.) 

The mood in Gijón and especially in the Bay of San Lorenzo beach, could not be more happy, festive, expectant. The early birds arrived in time to witness the maneuvers of the Airship red Coca-Cola. From early morning, very early, began arriving in the city trains and special buses, which reinforced the lines and the usual transport timetabling. For days hotels were forced to divert guests to nearby towns and even the capital of the Principality. The motorists, mostly aware of the agglomerations of previous years were more foresighted and reach the city largely accepted the recommendations of the local police to address the strategic parking. The walk from the beach "The Wall" was swarming with people of all ages, nationalities and colors, to the increasingly aggressive sun, bid up in the tails of the booths of the festival co-sponsor, the financial institution CAJASTUR for provided one of the great straw hats distributed free and is running out to reach 30,000 units. 

At 12 am, with excessive military punctuality, as they advanced a couple of minutes, rushed into the void with its colorful winged monkeys, men Alas Project leader taking the elite athlete and work "borderline" Alvaro Bultó. Were launched from a beautiful biplane, piloted by one of the men of Spanish aerobatics more skilled and capable as Fantoba Castor, former registration Polish aircraft, one AN-2 Antonov, power over a thousand horses, low cruising speed and stately progress.

After a long flight and very horizontal down the three paratroopers opened their gliders and fast turns and high speed, stopping in the air a few meters from the sand and left to sit gently on the beach to applause and cheers from the public. Once ashore, airmen safely, the Antonov was descending from the height of launch to just three hundred feet from the water by several passes and showing his slow but beautiful maneuverability thanks to the skillful hands of applause Fantoba thousands on the beach his walk, that the recommendation of the spiker Antonio Hinojosa were transformed into waving of caps, hats and beach towels.

Antonov succeeded the fire helicopters, maritime and emergency rescue of Asturias 112 that again, and this time it was not surprise by having it checked last year, demonstrated their expertise and professionalism, high qualification and expertise to handle these machines lifeline "for the benefit of citizenship. Following their shows simulated very successful, torn from strong swimmers and passers cheers and waving of hats with glowing reviews for their performances.

And I followed the Air Force with their usual activities while similar demonstrations at high power and technical capacity. Superpuma Helicopter Air Rescue Service and a Canadair CL-215 "firebreak" were those who put in evidence that, as with the 112, the citizens have at their disposal some very qualified professional public servants, in a spirit of service and sacrifice and a willingness "full time" of which the Asturian and Spanish have reason to be proud of and well understood by the public who gave them an ovation as loud noise that despite its powerful engines had to hear it from within booths. Earned!.

And Melissa stepped in Pemberton. The last straw!. What an extraordinary pilot must have been her grandmother! And what was his pupil's great granddaughter. There was much applause ... for the people stayed with my mouth open and did not react to applaud.

Your Extra 300s, speeding, passing a few meters from the hills, robbed in his past with the wind it produced, the hats of the spectators, climbed up the loss and fell making a thousand curls or threatening spit in the water. The enthusiasm caught between car and spectators.

This small, friendly and beautiful woman from California, won the public and all who were privileged to treat during your stay in Gijón. We are confident that if he returns to Europe again Gijón, because she expressed high appreciation for this land and its people and enthralled by air festival as a beautiful setting and massive influx of people. It was incredible to see both public and therefore risked watching the limits of their aircraft.

The photo of Melissa on her plane is obtained in the Manuel Gutierrez_Saavedra, from La Morgal.

Y. .. the Hill! Deafening, as always, but more surprised when we hear it. It is said that these devices in case of war would kill most enemies with the noise of arms.

But when you see a machine so heavy that still seems so tiny in the wide sky, make the moves, so precise, like the F-18 Air Force held at the Festival of Gijón, the din and noise is not heard, the prevailing image.

This aircraft aerodynamically so beautiful, with this stabilizing double vertical tail that distinguishes it from the latest European supersonic, and has many fans in Asturias and all spotters looking forward to the best view of the machine, but flies far and fast that Most photographers are unsatisfied for lack of better camera.

The young captains who run the F-18 that came to Asturias, and in particular that drove in the exhibition, showed that technical training and practice on the flight they make some great servants of the national defense and caretakers of heritage account for these expensive machines. Applause and hats for this fighter and bomber pilot.

And for a break in decibels supported, here goes ... Ramón Alonso. There is no rivalry at all, but to the thousands and thousands of spectators neophytes Melissa Pemberton, had it tough! But our former world champion, is much Gijón champion and outdid himself. We are accustomed to seeing such difficult and drawings that trace his plane in the air, it seems easy to show, but no, Ramon Alonso was, for us it still is, a world champion because it is the best. An air festival with Ramon Alonso on the grid, knows he has ensured the satisfaction of the spectators. And so was included Ramón Alonso on the grid at this time point, and won "the share". Two ears and tail!.

And the expectation of seeing the French Rafale fighter-bomber, was full of certainty. This extraordinary fighting machine design, manufacturing technology and French rival in time with the Eurofighter "Typhon", was "gunned down." . . to praise from the beach by all who saw it move as high versatility and maneuverability with the appearance of levity to the seriousness and easy lift. The explosive power of their turbo engines, which can lead to Mach 1.8, requires at her like a lover to their partner. French I would be proud if my domestic industry that brings me so perfectly for the service of national defense. Congratulations collected by the pilots, mechanics and members of the French representation present at Gijón, were not merely polite, but honest answer to their stature in this V Air Festival "City of Gijón".

And near the end. The eyes continued to stare at the sky, continuously from midnight when the Festival started, and appeared on the horizon beyond them. There, there they come! Was heard everywhere. And it was true, yonder they come, the Eagle Patrol. Our patrol! And while reaching the most beautiful picture commented registered in our retinas when the last few dates on the human tide of more than two million people in Madrid cheering the passage of the National Team Soccer World Champion! Eagle patrol passed, extending into the sky the flag of Spain. And one is excited to think that these "blackbirds" when flying into the world again, demonstrating their skill, their professionalism and spirit of service, as diverse skies filled with the colors of the national flag.

And that brings twenty five years. The meet the current festival season. Twenty-five years conducting the most diverse boards aerobatic exercises, with a quite Spanish aircraft, with pilots in our Air Force, in addition to its exhibitions carried out the always difficult but more work to train future pilots of our Army Beyond the General Air Academy in San Javier. The table of this year brought some new features to Gijón and it all turned out as expected and even better. How is it possible to improve every year that the former seemed unbeatable?. Simply. . . being the EAGLE PATROL.

Of course, viewers of so successful Air Festival "City of Gijón" we could not stay with looking upward. . . and came PAPEA. Parachute Acrobatic Patrol Air Army, which last year did not go to Gijón and the gijoneses it since we were looking at the sky. The military paratroopers of the Patrol, are the best in the world. . . world. Were launched in two waves and which of them more perfect in their exercises down. But surprise, admiration, and unlimited deserved ovation exercises on parachutists position on others, turning the foil from the men over their paragliders breaking any physical law of aerodynamics, its mirrors joining a paratrooper with another by the feet and above all ... the arrival of the National Flag to the ground, falling behind her, which he followed with emotion, the eyes of half a million viewers to wait a year to enjoy the sixth edition of the Air Festival "City Gijón.

In summarizing it would be unfair to name winner or winner of the Festival. All the grid was brilliant and perfect in their performances. So Thanks! To all of them.

VIESBAL Chronicle

Comments collected on this site, which can meet the more expressive, but could not the most understood and most statistically always silent, mainly praise for Melissa mark PEMBERTON, 112 helicopters, Ramon Alonso and Eagle Patrol. Are also highly praised, and for our part we adhere to them, to the spiker Antonio Hinojosa. And added, knowingly, the highest recognition for Carlos Diaz-Laviada Manso and his son James, who in an absolutely altruistic, with total dedication to the "dark" (the unseen) direction and technical logistics have worked very hard to make the festival a success. With them also commend the quiet and efficient work of the municipal coordinator Diego Losada and his advisor Paul Gonzalez, director of the Air Festival de Vigo.

(Photo izda: CAJASTUR protect the public good with its attractive picture hats .- Manuel G. Mier)

PS: We expect volunteer spotters to send us your photos to form the V Festival Air "City of Gijón" Galleries