History of Spanish hydro-aviation

THE BIRTH of Spanish hydro-aviation took place at the military airbase in Los Alcázares in 1915.

The military became aware of the need for this capability when Frenchman Henri Fabre made the first seaplane flight in 1910.

With more than 3,000 kilometres of coastline and proposed operations in North Africa, it was soon realised that hydro-aviation weaponry was of fundamental importance.

At the end of 1914, the ministry for war instructed the engineer and colonel Pedro Vives y Vich to set up a military aeronautics service.

His first task was to find the best place to establish a seaplane base. After touring the entire Spanish Mediterranean coastline, he reported that the most appropriate setting for the base was is Los Alcázares, as it featured unbeatable natural conditions: few obstacles, calm and shallow sea and an abundance of annual sunshine.

In September 1915, the first six Curtiss JN-2 seaplanes were delivered from the US and in November, the Spanish speaking seaplane pilot Albert J Engel and test pilot Raymond V Morris, both from the Curtiss Aeroplane Company, carried out the first test flights and began instructing.

Then on December 12, 1915, the cavalry lieutenant Roberto White Santiago piloted the first Spanish military seaplane flight.

Since then, Los Alcázares airbase has become one of the most important airfields in the history of Spanish military aviation.

Guided tours of the facility are taking place on February 26, March 26, April 30, May 28 and June 25, all at 10.00.

To register for one of the visits, email Los Alcázares town hall culture department at cultura@losalcazares.es or visit www.murciaturistica.es/es/ visitas_guiadas_gratuitas/

The tours are free and will be given in Spanish.