After the Patrulla Águila

The Patrulla Águila, which had flown the CASA C-101 Aviojet from San Javier for some forty years, gave its final official display in June 2025 at the Aire 25 festival; some of its aircraft were close to forty years old and increasingly hard to maintain. Its ceremonial role passed to a new formation drawn from the instructors of the Academia General del Aire y del Espacio at San Javier, flying the Pilatus PC-21 that has replaced the C-101 in pilot training.

Five PC-21s from San Javier

The Formación Mirlo flies five PC-21s. Its name recalls the Mirlo trainer of the post-war period, which Spanish press describe as one of the emblematic aircraft of Spanish flying instruction. Because a turboprop cannot produce smoke from its exhaust like a jet, each aircraft carries two Sanders SCSG-5 smoke generators to trace the red and yellow of the Spanish flag. Spanish reporting presents it as a ceremonial formation rather than a full-time aerobatic team.

First seasons

The formation made its debut over Madrid in the National Day parade on 12 October 2025, closing the flypast, although grey skies muted the colours. It was scheduled to appear at the Armed Forces Day in Vigo on 30 May 2026.