1978 to present


portugal Esquadra de Transporte 552

Força Aérea Portuguesa

Esq 552 552 Transport Squadron
Portuguese Air Force



Esquadra de Transporte 552
The unit was formed from Esq 33 in Nov 1978 and over the next 15 years absorbed the helicopters of Esq 551 (in 1986) and Esq 111 (in 1993).
The unit detached 4x Alouette III to Timor Leste between Feb 2000 and Jul 2002, as part of a UN mission.
Also known as The Zangões (Drones), its primary role is to provide tactical transport and air assault support. It supports search and rescue and fire fighting operations, as a secondary mission.



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  News about Esquadra de Transporte 552


Portugal Retired Alouette III

Portugal Retired Alouette III

29-Jun-20 - Portuguese Air Force retired the Alouette III helicopter after 57 years of service and 300,000 flight hours. They were replaced by the Leonardo AW119Kx Koala
Portuguese Koalas in Search and Rescue

Portuguese Koalas in Search and Rescue

11-Jun-20 - Portugal Air Force (FAP) new Koala helicopter from the Ovar airbase SAR detachment completed search and rescue mission in support of the civilian protection agency #Koala
First Two AW119Kx Delivered to Portugal

First Two AW119Kx Delivered to Portugal

22-Feb-19 - Portugal’s Air Force received the first two of five AW119Kx in a ceremony held at Beja Air Base. Rest will followed on early 2020. The new helicopter is replacing the Alouette III in service since 1960s #Delivery


  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
2019-    OvarLPOV
2000/02TL Dili IntlWPDL
1993-    Beja (BA11)LPBJ
??/93Tancos (BA3)LPTN


helicopter   Models


Years Models
2019-    AW119Kx Koala
1978/20 Alouette III






Esq 552 List of helicopters


C/N VersionBuiltIn this Org In other Org
1556 se3160 19298 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Béja Air Show, in UN markings.
: noted in Rotores de Portugal colours scheme at Evora.
1572 se3160 19301 : noted at Monte Real Air Show.
: noted at Béja.
1573 se3160 19302 : noted at San Javier Airshow in Rotores de Portugal colour scheme.
: noted in Rotores de Portugal colours scheme at Sintra.
: noted in Rotores de Portugal colours scheme at Evora.
1580 se3160 19304 : noted at Béja Air Show.
- F-WMHJ
1613 se3160 19312 : noted at Monte Real Air Show.
: noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Sintra Air Show.
: noted at Ovar.
1621 se3160 19314 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Sintra Air Show.
: noted at Béja Air Show.
1666 sa316b 19340 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Sintra Air Show.
: noted at Festival Aereo de Vigo.
: noted in Rotores de Portugal colour scheme at Evora.
: noted at Béja, in Rotores de Portugal colour scheme.
1682 sa316b 19344 : noted at Monte Real Air Show.
: noted at Béja Air Show.
1705 sa316b 19349 : noted at Béja, in Rotores de Portugal titling.
: noted at Ovar, in Rotores de Portugal colour scheme.
1742 sa316b 19356 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Béja.
: noted at Béja.
: noted hangared, at Ovar.
1786 sa316b 19368 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: displaying with Rotores de Portugal at Evora.
1802 sa316b 19372 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Faro, in standard FAP camouflage scheme.
: noted at Béja in special Zangão paint scheme to commemorate 300,000 flyi+
: Noted at Seia in special Zangão paint scheme to commemorate 300,000 flyin+
: noted at Ovar for 53rd Anniversary of FAP, in 300,000 flying hours paint s+
: noted at Evora in special paint scheme.
: noted at Béja, still in special paint scheme.
: noted at Béja, still in special paint scheme.
1818 sa316b 19376 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at San Javier Airshow, in Rotores de Portugal colour scheme.
: noted in Rotores de Portugal colours scheme at Sintra.
068 : noted during FAP 65th Anniversary Airshow.
1819 sa316b 19377 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted, hangared, at Béja.
: noted at San Javier Airshow, in Rotores de Portugal colour scheme.
: noted in Rotores de Portugal colours scheme at Sintra.
: displayed as 1 of 3 Rotores de Portugal at Portimão Air Show.
1840 sa316b 1971 19383 : noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Ovar, in Rotores de Portugal colour scheme.
: pictured resting in front of Squadron 552 hangar at Beja air base
1855 sa316b 19384 : noted at Béja Air Show.
1917 sa316b 19401 : FAP, ex 9041, pictured; 1994 Esq 552; May15 still
: noted at Béja, in FAP camouflage scheme.
: displaying with Rotores de Portugal at Evora.
: noted in Rotores de Portugal colours scheme at Sintra.
: noted at Ovar.
14959 aw119kx 2018 29701 : FAP d/d , Esq552; pictured (pic2) on official delivery ceremony at Beja
: noted at Béja during Real Thaw 2022.
: noted at Pedro Hispano hospital.
AgustaWestland USA N677SS
14960 aw119kx 2018 29702 : FAP d/d , Esq552; pictured on official delivery ceremony at Beja
: noted at Béja.
: noted at Béja during Real Thaw 2022.
: noted at FAP 70th Anniversary Airshow.
AgustaWestland USA N681SS
14965 aw119kx 29703 : FAP d/d 03Oct19, Esq552
: took part in Exercise MORSA 2019, deployed to Ovar.
: noted at Oporto.
: present for Hot Blade 2021
: present at Real Thaw 2023.
AgustaWestland USA N674SH
14966 aw119kx 2019 29704 : Koala first detachment for SAR at Ovar base, pictured (pic1) (pic2)
: noted at NATO Tiger Meet 2021.
: present for Real Thaw 2023.
: noted over Praia de Matosinhos.
AgustaWestland USA N670SH
14973 aw119kx 29705 : noted at FAP 70th Anniversary Airshow.
AgustaWestland USA N794PA
1093 se3160 1963 9254 : guarding the doors to the Squadron offices of Esq 552 at Beja by Mar 2018.
Air Force of Zimbabwe 7335
1666 sa316b 9340 : noted at NATO Tiger Meet.
: noted at Montijo Air Show.
1705 sa316b 9349 : noted at Montijo Air Show.
1709 w/o 1992 sa316b 9351 : FAP; w/o 21oct92
1800 sa316b 9370 : noted at NATO Tiger Meet.
: noted at Montijo Air Show.
Angolan Air Force H-235
1818 sa316b 9376 : noted at NATO Tiger Meet.
1819 sa316b 9377 : noted at NATO Tiger Meet.
: noted at Montijo Air Show.
1858 sa316b 9387 : noted at Monte Real Air Show.
1917 sa316b 9401 : noted at NATO Tiger Meet.




  Esquadra de Transporte 552 Operations


Dates Operation
2023-apr-172023-apr-17 Rescue from Peneda-Gerês National Park
2022-nov-182022-nov-18 6th Meeting of Rescue Swimmers Association
2019-oct-142019-oct-16 MORSA 2019
Hot Blade 2014
Hot Blade 2013
Hot Blade 2012
2000-feb2002-jul TL UNTAET





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