EDA'S HOTBLADE 2018 PORTUGAL           

 1 of 2)   PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPRESSIONS - PARTS 1 TO 21 SCOMPLETE !   (Part 1 of 2)
11- OPENINGS CEREMONY AND SPEECHES
Speeches...many have to say theri words, wishes, expectations and so on...
Basecommander 'Jedi' informs...
..... For most people it's quite impressing to participate in such an event as this.
2- PREVIOUS DIFFERENT PROCEDURES / INTERNAL SERVICESI
Manufacturing and issuing ID-tags for every person on the base
13- ARRIVALS OF SOME VIP PARTICIPANTS....1
The Royal Dutch Airforce (KLu)
Some helicopters arrived by plane as well....
....like the German NH-90 helicopters
14- MOST HELICOPTERS HOWEVER ARRIVED BY.... THEMSELVES ;-) 1
....The Hungarians flew themselves....
....as well as the Dutch did and many others.
i5- A VERY SPECIAL TYPE OF PARTICIPANT WAS THE PORTUGESE 'ALOUETTE III'
The old lady still does a wonderful job....
...transporting load and/or persons...
...a few are still in service...
.... such as here to train soldiers in their first roping actions ...
.... .even on quite some altitudes (mountains) it can be a very reliable transport partner !
i6- IMPORTANT FOR FAST TRANSPORTS WERE THE 'SLING' ACTIONS
  
Particularily the Germans played a large role in this part
i7- PICK-UPS OF LOADS, FLYING IN AND OUT OF RECCE-TEAMS 
  ed   A fast realized 'human mark' to show the LZ (Landing Zone) for the approaching helicopter. 
This can be used instead of smoke-pods which can indicate the enemy where the fast 'hit-and-run' action will take place in the territory
Slovenia appreciates every piece of experience they can get, here collecting special forces in the field
Dutch Chinooks and German NH90 helicopters  depart to collect recce-troops and Special Operations Forces elsewhere in the field.... 
It arrives, triggered by a green smoke-pod
 Guiding the terrain all the time...
The team arrives and gets on board quickly...
....other teams are elsewhere, also to be collected...
......'Gentlemen, your taxi arrives'.....
i8- BRINGING IN AND/OR PICKING UP SPECIAL FORCES (SOF) IN A HIT-AND-RUN ACTION
In many cases the situation requires that the landing zone is secured seconds after the helicopter touches the ground
Real 'hit-and-run' actions, MAOT teams determine the landing zone (LZ), Special Operation Forces (SOF) run towards the helicopter and off you go ! Less than two minutes ?
Not seldom the 'LZ' is surrounded by trees which requires a lot of experience from the pilots 
Same story, other helicopter, other location. Repeating is the power of getting more and more experience
Go go go go !!
Engines up, rotorblades turn in the right position for take-off and the machine is airborne
JTAC team (Joint Tactical Air Controller) the guys who call in or control air support.
i9- SPECIAL FORCES TRAIN IN ROPING OUT OF A HELICOPTER
 
 
 
10- PARATROOPERS START THEIR FLIGHT TO BE DROPPED IN 'HOSTAL ENVIRONMENT'
Paratroopers were dropped out of several types of helicopters, above the Merlin from Portugese Airforce
Below we follow a dropping from out of a Hungarian MI-17
 
    
 
11- EXERCISING NIGHT-FLIGHTSI
A pilot stated: 'In Portugal the nights are dark,....  and I mean they can be pitch-dark !! 
Nightflying requires preparations in terms of reconaissance of the environment on obstacles, masts, wires and so on.
The written article can be found on the end of the next page , please do follow us to even more action !    

    FOLLOW US TO PART II, SPECIAL EXERCISES & ANTI-TERROR ACTIONS !!