EDA'S HOTBLADE 2018 PORTUGAL              

(Part 2 of 2)        ENJOY THE NEXT 14 SUBJECTS OF HB18        (Part 2 of 2)
 preceeding:
II12- DROPPING SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN WATERI
Sometimes it can be that SOF have to be dropped in a lake, or any other waters for very specific reasons
Therefor this item also has to be practised, with- or without rope also for spedific reasons
The weather is fine, clothes are dry (.......;-)  and off we go !
Half an hour flying to no-mens land brings us to a lake out there.
Success, off you go !
Some jump from low altitude, de more experienced sometimes from some higher altitude.
Anyway, they all catch wet suits no matter how !
II13- A FEW VIP'S AND OTHER IMPORTANT PEOPLE DURING HB18I
    
Mr. José Alberto de Azeredo Lopes Minister of Portugese Defense DChief AF General Texeira Rolo Cemfa
 
Basecommander Beja Lt. Col AFB Joao Rosa (exclusive interview) Mr. Joaquim Nunes Borrego, commander of Airforce Academy 
 
Lt. Col. Roel Cuppes, overall coordinator HB18, (interiews)  Lt. Col. Roel Cuppes of EDA, overview, improvisation, eyes and ears of the exercise
 
Dinis Paiva, technical man with a lot of information for us Major Luis Nunes, public relations o.a. and our guide for a full week 
Lt. Col. Endre Dároczi (m) of Hungarian AF and Lt. Col. Zoltan Szili (r) also of Hungarian Airforce and also embedded in European Defense Agency Brussels.
Thank you both, as well as Roel Cuppes  for all the things that you both could arrange for us !
II14- A SHORT SLING ACTION WITH A DUTCH CHINOOKI
A short hit-and-run action, it concerned F-16 spareparts that (supposedly) were to be picked up from this particular point and dropped off elsewhere
A Mobile Air Operations Team (MAOT) member gas to 'hook' the helicopter due to sometimes heavy static electricity 
After that the load can be hooked uo under the Chinook
Flying in, attaching and departing again is a matter of perhaps two minutes !
II15- JUST ENJOYING PICTURES CONCERNING DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS OF COMAO FLIGHTS
II16- MALLINA HELICOPTER DETECTING SYSTEM WAS TESTED AND USED
Lt.Joao Rosa explains that HB18 is a splendid opportunity to test and use the Mallina helicopter detecting system
 
Looking out for 'hostal' helicopters
A full afternoon a Dutch Chinook was the doubtful 'target', or - as they say in The Netherlands - he was 'De Sjaak' 
II17- INFORMING VIP'S ABOUT THE COMING ANTI-TERRORIST ACTIONS
 
A special day forsaw in a very realistic action, against terrorists in a building that had to be eliminated. If possible alive.......  
Commander Rosa explains some details to the Minister of Defense
All VIP's and guests were lined up for the coming action
Amongst them repredentatives of several aitforces, just to observe, others perhaps to join EDA's blade exercises in future
 
 
Luis Nunes (r) probably the most busy man of the entire week ! Guiding and organizing as PR officer, but it did pay off. Congrats Luis with your promotion !
II18- INTERNATIONAL ATTACK BY SURPRISE !!
After thorough investigations it's time to start an action against terrorists. Boarding please, hurry ! 
Several teams (SOF) from different countries with different types of helicopters start their action at 'Zero Hour'.
Dutch Chinook deliveres 'boots on the ground'in the neighbourhood of the suspected location of the terrorists
Coming nearer to where danger might be expected al old construction sites and sheds are checked out
Suddenly out of nowhere the Portugese F-16's arrive, making panic and an awful lot of noise just above the buildings
An attack follows on a part of the location
Immediately followed by the approach of several helicopters delivering Special Forces
It seems lie a dream of all kinds of things happen in minutes, and that is exactly what was happening
In between the 'boots' continue checking all kinds of locations, to exclude any surprises or giving the terrorists a chance to run or fight back
Helicopters keep on flying in and deliver men and equipment like this German NH-90
A Dutch Cougar ropes off more men ....
...while the German NH-90 delivers his men in the grass and lifts off immediately after
Do realize that pilots have to be trained so well to land between trees and buildings, but they know. It's a well oiled machine, men and machines.
Both NH-90 and Cougar dissappear as in a flash, avoiding any chance of hostal fire
In the meantime well armed Belgian A-109 Hirondo's circle around, observing what happens on the ground, licences to fire if neccessary of course
A terrorist tried to escape by car. Though the Chinook is quite viable, and starts the pursuit....
......and really believe me, when a Chinook hangs on your back, you don't want to go anywhere anymore !
End of story for their terror action, what rests these terrorists will be a trial and many years in 'Hotel Criminals' !

STAY WITH US AND SCROLL DOWN HERE, ANOTHER TERRORIST ACTION IS COMING UP BELOW !!
On their way !
II19- ANOTHER ANTI TERROR RAID, LET THE PICTURES TELL YOU THE STORY
 
 
That's the way ! Chinook arrives, criminals will have a free flight. Almost one-way to Terror Hotel for many many years....   !!
II20- LET'S NOT FORGET A VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT: MAINTAINANCE....
 ....and after that we will close this overview with perhaps the three most important pictures of HB18 !
I21- A VERY FRIENDLY 'GOODBYE' FROM THE DEPARTMENT CATERING !!
TTTTTTThey as well as everyone in this exercise did a tremendous well job !!TTTTTT

IIIIIIIITHE WRITTEN ARTICLE IN ONE PIECE:    IIIIIII
Finally:
We have been working on HB18 in a small beach restaurant in Algarve. Thank you folks as well !
IInterested in the what-abouts ? Sun, Beach drinks & nice food !
 
         
Please read our disclaimer mainpage left