Visit the Los Alcázares Air Base. The First Hydroplane air base in Spain (1915)
A visit to do with family or friends and learn the history of the first seaplane base in Spain. On the last Saturday of each month, the historic seaplane base of Los Alcázares offers the opportunity to visit Spain’s first seaplane base, which began operating in 1915. The visits will be carried out from 11:00 hours and have a duration of approximately 2 hours, with groups of 35 people approximately.
The visits are carried out in Spanish but the guide speaks English should you have any questions.
30/09/17
Time and visits: at 11 o’clock.
The visits are carried out in groups of 30 to 35 people.
Place: Los Alcázares Air Base
Town: Los Alcázares
THE BIRTH OF SPANISH MILITARY HYDROVISION.
In 1910 the Frenchman Henri Fabre made the first flight with a seaplane in Los Alcázares Aerodome, it was considered necessary to include this type of aircraft between the nascent aircraft. As Spain has more than 3000 kms, and in view of the need back then to cooperate in the military operations which were soon to be started in North Africa, the seaplane was supposed to be an element of fundamental importance.
At the end of 1914, the Ministry of War commissioned the colonel of engineers, Pedro Vives y Vich, director of the Military Aeronautics Service, to find the most suitable place for the establishment of a seaplane base. After visiting all the Spanish Mediterranean coast, from Algeciras (Cadiz) to Portbou (Gerona), Mr. Vives communicated to the Ministry that the most appropriate location to establish the first seaplane base in Spain is Los Alcázares, located in the centre of the western bank of the Mar Menor, it presented and displayed excellent natural conditions: few obstacles, calm and shallow sea and abundant days of sun to the year.
In May 1915, the new aerodrome hangars, workshops, docks for hydroplanes were built … In September 1915, from the United States, the first aircraft arrived: six Curtiss JN-2 seaplanes. In November Curtiss Aeroplane Co. pilot Albert J. Engel performed the first test flights.
On December 12th, 1915, the lieutenant of cavalry Roberto White Santiago performed the first flight of a Spanish military seaplane in Los Alcázares. Since then, Los Alcázares became one of the most important aerodromes in the history of the Spanish Military Aeronautics of the first half of the twentieth century.
Time line;
1915. Los Alcázares seaplane station.
12. Dec. 1915. Los Alcázares. First flight of a military seaplane in Spain.
1916-1921. School of Hydroplanes
1920-1921. Elementary School of Pilots
1921-1939. School of Combat (Shot) and Aerial Bombardment.Base of the Group of Seaplanes of the Peninsula, since 1931 Group of Seaplanes nº 6 Base of the Advanced Training Squadron Y-2 (Instruction Service) Seat of the Regional Park of the Southeast (Material Service)
1934-1939. Burguete aerodrome (Decree of January 29, 1934)
1936-1939. Seat of the Second Air Squadron Schools of High Speed and Night Flight (El Carmolí)
1941-1950. Aviation Troop Weapons Officer Academy
1944-1951. Base of 52 Group of Seaplanes
1951-1970. School of Air NCOs
1969-1979. Complement Pilot Elementary School
1972-1979. Center for Military Instruction of the Air Force (IMEC-EA)
1980-1986. Center of Selection of Aspirants to the General Air Academy (C.S.A.G.A.)
1986-1995. Center for Training, Security and Defense of the Air Force (C.A.S.Y.D.)nineteen ninety five- (…). Aircraft Carriage of Los Alcázares
As it is a military installation, only previously registered people can visit. INFORMATION AND INSCRIPTIONS:
Department of Culture. Los Alcázares town Hall
Tel: 968 58 21 07 (10 to 14 hours) culture@losalcazares.es
Tourist Office: 968 57 57 56
Los Alcázares Tourist Office tel: 968 575756 / email: turismo@losalcazares.es