Zagagoza 19th February 2024

[wdijlst]

Zaragoza = 19 February 2024
I had arranged a basevisit with Ala 15. And this ment we where only allowed around the Ala 15 camp area. All where noted within more or less 1,5 hours. After that I did a tour around the base, outside the fence.
C.15-14/15-01 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline, no tiger marking anymore
C.15-15/15-02 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline, flying, 40 years withtin NATO markings.
C.15-16/15-03 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline
C.15-18/15-05 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline
C.15-21/15-08 EF-18M Ala 15 Tiger c/s , maintenance
C.15-22/15-09 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline, flying
C.15-23/15-10 EF-18M Ala 15 Hangar
C.15-24/15-11 EF-18M Ala 15 Maintenance
C.15-27/15-14 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline, flying, 40 years withtin NATO markings.
C.15-28/15-15 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline, flying, 40 years withtin NATO markings.
C.15-29/15-16 EF-18M Ala 15 Maintenance
C.15-30/15-17 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline
C.15-31/15-18 EF-18M Ala 15 Maintenance
C.15-32/15-19 EF-18M Ala 15 Sunshed, farside (edge of ramp) Ala15
C.15-33/15-20 EF-18M Ala 15 Hangar
C.15-35/15-22 EF-18M Ala 15 Maintenance
C.15-36/15-23 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline
C.15-37/15-24 EF-18M Ala 15 Maintenance
C.15-39/15-26 EF-18M Ala 15 Hangar
C.15-40/15-27 EF-18M Ala 15 Light maintenance
C.15-41/15-28 EF-18M Ala 15 Hangar
C.15-43/15-30 EF-18M Ala 15 Flightline. New slightly darker grey c/s, no Spanish "x" marking in tail anymore.
CE.15-03/15-72 EF-18BM Ala 15 Maintenance
CE.15-04/15-73 EF-18BM Ala 15 Flightline
CE.15-5/15-74 EF-18BM Ala 15 Heavy maintenance, canabalized. Looks like it hasn't flown for a while.
CE.15-06/15-75 EF-18BM Ala 15 Maintenance
CE.15-08/12-71 EF-18BM Ala 12 (Ala15) Flightline, on loan to Ala 15. Ala15 badge on tailfin!
CE.15-09/15-77 EF-18BM Ala 15 Hangar
CE.15-10/12-73 EF-18BM Ala 12 (Ala15) Flightline, on loan to Ala 15. With Ala12 markings.
T.23-04/31-24 A400M Ala 31 parked on platform, 40 years within NATO markings.
(T.23-06/31-26) (A400M) (Ala 31) (not noted, away on a mission from 9.50 - 18.00hrs acc. ADSB)
T.23-10/31-30 A400M Ala 31 parked on Ala 31 platform
T.23-12/31-32 A400M Ala 31 parked on Ala 31 platform
T.23-13/31-33 A400M Ala 31 parked on Ala 31 platform
1x A400M Ala 31 parked on Ala 31 platform around noon, later only 4 on platform (perhaps it took of or went inside a hangar?)
2x A400M Ala 31 parked in 2 different hangars later in afternoon, one might be a A400M that was outside earlier.
T.21-02/35-40 Casa 295 Ala 35 100 years Gatafe airbase markings on tail. Came in from Rota (Azor11, according ADSB)
7x AV-8 Harrier 9 Esc. Arrived in 3 flights, all parked on SW ramp
C.15-69/12-27 EF-18M Ala 12 parked on SW ramp
2x EF-18M Ala 12 parked on SW ramp, almost sure about codes 12-09 and 12-19.
2x EF-18M Ala 12 parked on SW ramp, unable to read the codes of these 2.
(C.12-34/122-17) F-4C Dumped/dereliced fuselage North side, no tail (near Ala15)
C.14C-74/14-50 Mirage F1EDA Preserved on pole, north gate (Ala 15 gate)
(C.5-143) F-86F as '25406/FU-406' (USAF c/s), preserved south-west camp
E.15-50/41-4 T-33A preserved Ala 15 area
(T.10-02) C-130H fuselage only (GIA?)
(T.10-10) C-130H Preserved Ala31
1x C-130H tail section preserved Ala31
(55-3103) T-33A Ex AdlA, dumped NW area, near runway end. Seen from outside the base.
Ala 15 is currently in the process of replacing all the old sunsheds (with round roof shape) with more robust sun shelters (with angle shaped roof) on their ramp.
All, but two QRA, F-18's that where present have also been seen during the visit. The two QRA F-18's where parked in shelters on the other side of base, and we where not allowed to go there.
Mind the the dualseaters of Ala 12, which are currently on stenght of Ala15. I don't know if they are on temporary loan or new assigned. But one had already received Ala 15 unit markings on the tail. But both still wore Ala 12 nose codes.
A total of 7 Harriers came in from Rota, they where all parked on the large American ramp on the SW side. And so where the 5 visiting Hornets.
First flight of 2 Harriers came in around 11.30hrs, the 2nd flight with 3 Harriers arrived around 13.15hrs. The last two arrived later in the afternoon, I did not note down the time, but I guess around 14.30hrs orso.
Also the same large (former) American ramp on the SW side, I noted 5 visiting Hornets, tree at least from Ala 12. One code I'm 100% sure of, the 12-27, two others might be right but where hard because of heath haze and backlighting.
Around noon 5 A400M's (3 with refuelling pods) where parked on the Ala 31 ramp. Could not read any from Ala 15 area. Later from outside I managed to ID the 4 which where now only parked on the ramp. One of these taxied to the former American ramp on the SW. Two other A400's where seen in two different hangars. One was away on a local mission, according to ADSB.

Zaragoza - Town = 19 February 2024
CR.12-47/12-56 RF-4C Preserved Zaragoza-Barrio de Movera, Fundación Bescós, CV-314, 561, 50194 Zaragoza (GPS 41.644899, -0.813095)
HR.12-2/ET-196 AB206A-1 GIA (School) IES Miralbueno, C. de Vistabella, 8, 50011 Zaragoza (College classroom/hall 5B) (GPS 41.65960, -0.94106)

[Kurnass]

The Matadors were deployed to Zaragoza for a week long exercise at the Bardenas range

[SpilsbyPete]

wdijlst

Fantastic Report
Nice to see a detailed log

Pete

[wdijlst]

The Matadors were deployed to Zaragoza for a week long exercise at the Bardenas range

Thanks for the confirmation Kurnass, I kind of figured it out because of the Casa support aircraft also coming from Rota. Unfortunalty I was unable to come back later last week.
Do you happen to know their serials/codes perhaps?

Fantastic Report
Nice to see a detailed log

Thanks Pete, cheers! I always want to be as accurate as possible. Good to know it is appricated.

[Kurnass]

I only saw photos of 01-919, others not readable. But unfortunately also no confirmation how many were deployed.

@EstebanPhoto11 has some photos on X/Twitter

[wdijlst]

thanks Kurnass, I'm glad you pointed me in the direction of these X/Twitter posts. For now I still am searching for the 7 Harriers I saw on the 19th of February.