{"id":64090,"date":"2026-03-21T23:57:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T22:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=64090"},"modified":"2026-03-28T23:12:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T22:12:31","slug":"the-little-known-inspection-flights-of-radio-aids-by-the-spanish-air-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2026\/03\/21\/the-little-known-inspection-flights-of-radio-aids-by-the-spanish-air-force\/","title":{"rendered":"The little-known inspection flights of radio aids by the Spanish Air Force"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air forces are primarily known for their fighter and transport aircraft, and in Spain for their firefighters.<\/p>\n

A report on the little-known Cessna Citation V of the Spanish Air Force<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe CLAEX of the Spanish Air Force receives its two Pilatus PC-21s for testing<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

However, there are little-known missions of an air force that are very important to guarantee the safety of air navigation<\/strong>, an issue that not only involves the maintenance of the facilities and runways on which the aircraft operate, but also of the signals used to orient themselves during their flights<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
The Cessna 560 Citation V TR.20-01 (403-11) of the 403 Squadron, one of two aircraft of this type used by this unit for aerial photography. We see the installation of its WILD RC-30 cameras on both sides of the fuselage, next to the leading edge of the wings (Photo: Ej\u00e9rcito del Aire<\/a>).<\/div>\n

In the Spanish Air Force, the 403 Squadron is responsible for the inspection and calibration of radio navigation aids.<\/strong> This unit, based in Getafe (Madrid) and serving the Cartographic and Photographic Center (CECAF), operates three Cessna 560 Citation V aircraft<\/strong>, designated TR.20 by the Air Force. As we saw here in 2024<\/a>, two of them are equipped with WILD RC-30 cameras for aerial photography missions. The squadron's third aircraft, the TR.20-03 (403-21), does not carry cameras but is equipped with a radio aid calibration console<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
The Cessna 560 Citation V TR.20-03 (403-21) used by the 403 Squadron for the inspection of radio aids, during a visit to the Lanzarote Military Airfield, in the Canary Islands, in early July 2022 (Photo: Ej\u00e9rcito del Aire<\/a>).<\/div>\n

The TR.20-03 was built in May 1992<\/strong>, serial number 183. Its first operator was Universal Enterprises Inc. of Ontario, Ohio, with the U.S. civil registration N82RE. In April 2008, it was acquired by Van Ness Plastic Holding of Clifton, New Jersey. The Spanish Air Force purchased it in August 2009.<\/strong> Like the other two aircraft of the 403 Squadron, it is painted in a two-tone scheme: white on top and gray on the bottom.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
The radio navigation aid calibration console of the Cessna 560 Citation V TR.20-03 (403-21) of the 403 Squadron (Photo: Ministerio de Defensa<\/a>).<\/div>\n

The CECAF TR.20-03 is used to calibrate the radio navigation aids of the Spanish Air Force itself<\/strong>, as well as those operated by the Army and Navy ships, in addition to some belonging to Enaire, the Spanish civil air navigation service provider, as explained by one of the members of the 403 Squadron in an interesting video published today by Fly By Wire Aviation<\/a> (a YouTube channel I recommend you subscribe to), in which we see a radio navigation aid inspection flight at Mor\u00f3n Air Base in Seville<\/strong> (the video is in Spanish; you can activate automatic English subtitles in the bottom bar of the player):<\/p>\n