On June 11, 2025, the Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio, EAE) conducted its final aerobatic flight with the iconic CASA C101EB Aviojet, marking the end of an era for the country’s aerial demonstration team, Patrulla Águila.
The official farewell to the aircraft will take place during the air festival at San Javier Air Base, near Murcia, scheduled for June 14 and 15. The event will commemorate the Aviojet’s 45 years of service, including four decades as the primary aircraft for the renowned Spanish aerobatic team.
The retirement of the C101EB comes as the EAE transitions to a new era of pilot training. The aircraft will be replaced by the Swiss-made Pilatus PC-21. Spain has ordered 40 of these modern turboprop trainers, with the first 24 already delivered to 792 Escuadrón, part of the Academia General del Aire (AGA). Deliveries commenced in September 2021 and were completed by June 2022.
The introduction of the PC-21 marks a significant step forward in the modernization of Spain’s military pilot training capabilities, offering advanced avionics and performance features suited for today’s operational demands.
