One of the first pilots of the CASA C-101 Aviojet tells us about this Spanish aircraft

We recently learned the news that this summer we will see the withdrawal from service of the CASA C-101 of the Patrulla Águila.

Patrulla Águila, the second aerobatic team to change jets for turboprops
The details that we can see in a CASA C-101 Aviojet aircraft seen from very close up

As in the training flights of the San Javier General Air Academy (AGA), the C-101s of the Patrulla Águila will be replaced by the Pilatus PC-21 turboprops. This will bring to an end a 45-year history of Aviojet service in Spain, since this aircraft entered service in 1980 at the AGA.

Spain came to operate a total of C-101EBs, being used by the AGA, by CLAEX, by the Matacán School Group (GRUEMA) and by the Patrulla Águila. Furthermore, the aircraft was exported to three countries: Chile (35 units, 12 C-101BB and 23 C-101CC), Jordan (16 C-101CC) and Honduras (4 C-101BB). Today, these three countries have long since retired their C-101s from service, so this aircraft is now only used in Spain.

Today there are two C-101s on display next to Hangar 1 of the Museo del Aire de Cuatro Vientos, in Madrid: the first prototype (XE.25-01), with which this model made its maiden flight on June 27, 1977, piloted by Colonel Gabriel de La Cruz Jiménez, and one of the C-101EBs of the Patrulla Águila, the E.25-23. This Monday, the Association of Friends of the Air Museum has published an interesting video on Javier Díaz, in which one of the first Spanish pilots to fly with this aircraft, explains the history of the C-101 and some curiosities about it (the video is in Spanish, you can activate automatic English subtitles in the bottom bar of the player):

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Main photo: Elentir. Un CASA C-101 Aviojet de la Patrulla Águila del Ejército del Aire volando en el Festival Aéreo de La Coruña, España, el 20 de julio de 2014.