The worldwide famous Infante of Orleans Foundation, devoted to both the preservation of historical airplanes in flight condition and to maintain alive the History of Spanish Aviation, began its path when a group of professional pilots highly competent in sporting aviation, who had already created the Historical Airplanes Section of the José Luis Aresti Aeroclub in 1984,
decided to consolidate it establishing the FIO in 1989, aiming at getting the most comprehensive feasible collection of aircraft which have performed a significant role in the development of Spanish aeronautics.
Amazingly, by dint of huge and strenuous effort, deep knowledge and experience, infatuation for the sublime classical planes and the flight in pure state, thousands of hours of toil and many more things, this group of men deeply loving aviation and its legendary background plucked up courage and after some years of steady activity, fighting tooth and nail with high doses of enthusiasm, striving for thoroughness in a lot of different sides to fulfill their dream, turned the Infante de Orleans Foundation into one of the foremost organizations of its scope existing in the world, something which has kept on throughout XXI Century hitherto.
All of them are highly experienced professional pilots (beginning with the famous José Luis Aresti (1917-2003, one of the best pilots in history, head of the Spanish team and organizer of the III World Aerobatics Championship held in 1964 - which was won by Tomás Castaño-, holder of the Paul Tissandier Diploma 1955, FAI Bronze Medal 1961, FAI Gold Air Medal 1969 and creator of the Aresti Aerochryptographic Dictionary, adopted by the FAI from 1961, and President of the Aerobatics Commission since 1967) or top-notch mechanics featuring outstanding know-how and expertise in the sphere of traditional mechanics.
A DREAM COME TRUE
Therefore,
throughout 25 years, the Infante de Orleans Foundation has become one of the international
benchmarks in its domain
and has thrilled the hundreds of thousands of people
who have visited Cuatro Vientos Airdrome on every first Sunday of each month
(date in which flight exhibitions are held) from late eighties of the XX
Century to watch fly these jewels of the aviation history, vast majority of
which are equipped with gorgeous piston engines in a number of sizes,
configurations and powers, having written many of the most glorious pages of
Aviation History.
Felipe Aresti, José Luis Aresti´s son, piloting the Bücker Jungmeister, one of the most beautiful aerobatic and sporting airplanes ever made. It features a Siemens 160 H.P engine.
Two Bücker Jungmanns flying together.
These wonderful vintage planes oozing beauty, class, elegance, charm and history to spare have been the main actors of unforgettable displays, land and aerial alike, which have made the spectators feel spellbound once and again.
Boeing PT-17 Stearman, equipped with a Continental W-670 225 H.P engine.
They are professional pilots with remarkable background and thousands of flight hours, often handling much modern and sophisticated planes, who have proved to have a great penchant for flying the FIO vintage airplanes for decades.
And the same can
be applied to the Infante de Orleans Foundation top-notch mechanics (frequently
handling components of much more updated aircraft engines, fuselages, cockpits,
landing gears, rudders, etc), who likewise devote thousands of hours of their
lives to the deep study and research of old manuals of classic aircraft with
the goal of keeping them flawless and in perfect condition to fly,
constantly paying attention among many other things to the flawless working of the piston-engined powerplants.
constantly paying attention among many other things to the flawless working of the piston-engined powerplants.
THE
CONSOLIDATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL REFERENCE CLASS ORGANIZATION
From its very inception, the Infante de Orleans Foundation had a cornerstone: the salvation of very valuable and historical airplanes from plunder and junking, simultaneously managing to get them in perfect flight condition, it all with a further and not less significant goal: the spreading of Spanish aeronautical culture.
From its very inception, the Infante de Orleans Foundation had a cornerstone: the salvation of very valuable and historical airplanes from plunder and junking, simultaneously managing to get them in perfect flight condition, it all with a further and not less significant goal: the spreading of Spanish aeronautical culture.
British Klemm Swallow II, featuring a Cirrus Minor 90 H.P engine.
This way, little by little, through very hard work and perseverance, year after year, this highly competent professional human group deeply involved in sporting aviation, was able to turn the FIO in one of the most important worldwide organizations within its sphere, a true feat deserving the highest accolades, above all if we bear in mind that they accomplished it with very few means and steady constrained budgets, making a great variety of things focusing on innovation and adaptability as significant strengths, most times working in a craftsmanship way, to such an extent that already in mid nineties of XX Century, the Infante of Orleans exhibition of classic aircraft in flight held on the first Sunday of each month was internationally famous, with massive attendance of both Spanish and foreign visitors from different countries pining for
Boeing PT-17 Stearman.
De Havilland DH-60 Moth, featuring an A.D.C.D.H ´Gipsy III ´ 120 H.P engine.
the unforgettable experience and relish of watching these amazing and historical planes (many of them appearing in mythical movies like North by Northwest, Out of Africa, etc) fly.
But to achieve it was always the result of exceedingly uphill endeavours, and if it´s difficult to reach the top, even more difficult is to remain within it, and the key factors in the FIO great success have been:
- The great verve and experience provided by the pilots and mechanics of the FIO team.
- A constant and very painstaking overhaul and care of every aircraft in the collection.
- The restoration of the airplanes of the collection, tackled by FIO with exceptional levels of thoroughness and knowledge, using the best available materials. These works include the reinforcement of frames, new fabrics manufacture, painting with new colours, renewing of both main and tail wheels, adjustment of the front cover of engines, replacement of old components in engines, strengthening of propellers or replacement of them by new ones, crankshaft revision, dissassembly and revision of structures, and many others.
In this sphere, the work of experts like José María Valles Alaminos, one of the driving forces of the FIO Center of Restoration and Maintenance of Airplanes, has been a major pillar of the organization.
The Infante de Orleans Foundation CRM carries out its restorations with the highest standards of quality, returning each vintage plane to its original condition.
- A lot of ground tests to verify the integral working, inlcuding the first start-up and taxiing.
- A steady tuning of the piston engined powerplants of the different aircraft of the collection.
- The intensive study of old books and manuals on specific planes of the collection, delving into the methods and techniques necessary to keep them in ideal condition.
- The invaluable and praiseworthy labour developed for decades by some top class aviation scholars and historians
like Javier Permanyer Fernández, Felipe E. Ezquerro, Enrique Fernández Coppel, Cecilio Yusta Viñas, Carlos Lázaro Ávila, Canario Azaola and others, with many articles and lectures which have helped a great deal to divulge the historical and technological significance of the vintage airplanes, along with their most relevant breakthroughs.
- A full-hearted fight for getting very representative planes in the History of Aviation,
Wasp 550 H.P engine.
something which
becomes a treat for all enthusiasts of vintage airplanes.
Regarding this,
the obtaining by the Infante de Orleans Foundation of a Polikarpov I-16 Mosca
Polikarpov I-16 Mosca piloted by Carlos Valle, President of FIO. This stunning monoplane features a tremendous Shvetsov M-62 nine cylinder, air-cooled 1,000 H.P radial engine, an optimized version of the Wright R-1820 Cyclone (that had been made in Russsia under licence as the Shvetsov 25 775 H.P), adding a two-speed centrifugal type supercharger and a more efficent induction system, along with an increase in power up to 1,000 H.P
Back view of Polikarpov I-16, piloted by Carlos Valle, during a turn on
the left.
the left.
after a lot of
years of efforts, was truly a milestone, and this legendary fighter (which
became highly famous during the Spanish Civil War), piloted by Carlos Valle
(President of the Infante de Orleans Foundation) has turned into the flagship
of the collection and one of the most valuable and spectacular vintage aircraft
currently in flight condition in the world, bearing the CM-249 badge belonging
to the Republican ace José María Bravo, head of the 3rd Squadron.
And above all,
the FIO has followed from its birth tremendously stringent security protocols
(always going far beyond the official regulations in this regard), searching
for the maximum safeguard of the people attending the exhibitions.
A WONDERFUL AND UNIQUE EVENT
To see fly the vintage airplanes of the Infante de Orleans Foundation during its monthly exhibitions is a real treat for any lover of aviation, and people attending them do experience a heart shivering and an unutterable thrill on watching their majestic shapes prancing in the air driven by piston engines whose sound has to be heard to be believed.
A WONDERFUL AND UNIQUE EVENT
To see fly the vintage airplanes of the Infante de Orleans Foundation during its monthly exhibitions is a real treat for any lover of aviation, and people attending them do experience a heart shivering and an unutterable thrill on watching their majestic shapes prancing in the air driven by piston engines whose sound has to be heard to be believed.
Anyone having
ever listened to the amazing music generated by engines such as the Wright Cyclone SR-1820-F3 775 H.P of the Polikarpov I-16 Mosca, the Continental
W-670 225 H.P of the Boeing PT-17 Stearman, the Prat & Whitney R-1340 600 H.P of the North American T-6 Texan, the Siemens 160 H.P of the Bücker Jungmeister, the Kinner 125 H.P of the Fleet 2 and many
others can confirm it.
Detail of the Continental W-670 225 H.P engine of the Boeing PT-17 Stearman.
Boeing PT-17 Stearman
Lateral view of the Siemens 160 H.P engine and propeller of Bücker Jungmeister.
Bücker Jungmeister and Bücker Jungmann flying together. Beauty
in pure state.
Polikarpov I-16 Mosca flying at full power pushed by its tremendous
Wright Cyclone 775 H.P engine and piloted by Carlos Valle, the man
who after a lot of years striving for getting this jewel, could see his
dream come true. It´s impossible to express with words the fabulous
experience of watching this unique airplane fly, and the sound of that
powerplant ...
North American T-6 Texan
North American T-6 Texan, Polikarpov I-16 Mosca and HA-200 Saeta
flying together.
Polikarpov I-16 Mosca and HA-200 Saeta, the latter being the only jet
till now in the FIO Collection, piloted by Santi Blanco, Fernando Adrados, Manix Iglesia and Ladislao Tejedor Romero (May he rest in peace).
North American T-6 Texan.
Pitts S-2A. It features a four-cylinder, direct drive, horizontally
opposed, air cooled Lycoming 0-360 225 H.P engine.
Pitts S-2A.
HA-220 Super Saeta with camouflage painting, one of the jewels of the Fundaciò Parc Aeronautic de Catalunya and piloted by Jaime Capllonch. Equipped with two Turbomeca Marboré VI jet engines delivering 480 kg thrust each. It was overhauled by Maestro Pacheco, who also adjusted the powerplants.
Antonov AN-2 Annushka, the biggest single engine biplane ever made. Featuring a Shvetsov Ash 62 IR 1000 H.P radial engine, it is an exceedingly sturdy and reliable plane excelling in STOL capabilities enabling it to operate in a wide range of contexts, as well as offering an astounding ability to work at low and very low speeds, thanks to its automatic system of slats stretching through springs, in such a way that there isn´t barely any stall speed.
Antonov AN-2. The flight of this large Russian aircraft is really sumptuous, specially when it moves in the air at the exceedingly low speeds it is able to handle with utter security. In order to properly realize what means to watch the Polikarpov I-16 Mosca fly, it could be interesting to know that it is driven exactly by the same engine as the Annushka.
Sukhoi SU-31, equipped with a 400 H.P Vedeneyev M-14PF engine
and piloted by Ramón Alonso, Aerobatics World Champion in 2007, held in Armilla (Granada), and in which Cástor Fantoba got a highly praiseworthy fourth position. The Spanish aerobatics team had also a historical performance, attaining the silver medal in the teams competition thanks to the great performances by Ramón Alonso, Cástor Fantoba and Juan Velarde, managing to accomplish the feat of beating the Russian squad (which was the great favourite). This definitely consolidated the Spanish aerobatics within the world elite, something which was also attained through the remarkable performances by other great pilots like Sergio Pla, Juan Socias, Anselmo Gámez and the great Alex McLean (May he rest in peace) who became one of the best international aerobatic champions competing highly successfully in the Red Bull Air Race World Series between 2003 and 2009, having also been twice Spain Champion of Aerobatics and once European Champion.
Sukhoi SU-31 piloted by Ramón Alonso.
SUPERB CALENDARS
This is another aspect in which the FIO excels, manufacturing year after year very charming king size calendars exuding elegance, good taste and excellent pictures made by recognized aviation photographers like Ismael Abeytua, Javier Guerrero, Guillermo Blume and others.
One of the pages of the FIO 2013 Calendar with a picture of the
Beechcraft made by Ismael Abeytua.
Another of the pages of FIO 2013 Calendar with a photograph of the legendary HA-200 Saeta made by Ismael Abeytua.
Copyright Text and Photos: José Manuel Serrano Esparza
in pure state.
Wright Cyclone 775 H.P engine and piloted by Carlos Valle, the man
who after a lot of years striving for getting this jewel, could see his
dream come true. It´s impossible to express with words the fabulous
experience of watching this unique airplane fly, and the sound of that
powerplant ...
flying together.
till now in the FIO Collection, piloted by Santi Blanco, Fernando Adrados, Manix Iglesia and Ladislao Tejedor Romero (May he rest in peace).
opposed, air cooled Lycoming 0-360 225 H.P engine.
On the other hand, the FIO flight exhibitions are
often visited by guest stars, id est, pilots who provide their airplanes and
skills helping to make the displays even more exciting and interesting. Among
them can be highlighted:
and piloted by Ramón Alonso, Aerobatics World Champion in 2007, held in Armilla (Granada), and in which Cástor Fantoba got a highly praiseworthy fourth position. The Spanish aerobatics team had also a historical performance, attaining the silver medal in the teams competition thanks to the great performances by Ramón Alonso, Cástor Fantoba and Juan Velarde, managing to accomplish the feat of beating the Russian squad (which was the great favourite). This definitely consolidated the Spanish aerobatics within the world elite, something which was also attained through the remarkable performances by other great pilots like Sergio Pla, Juan Socias, Anselmo Gámez and the great Alex McLean (May he rest in peace) who became one of the best international aerobatic champions competing highly successfully in the Red Bull Air Race World Series between 2003 and 2009, having also been twice Spain Champion of Aerobatics and once European Champion.
This is another aspect in which the FIO excels, manufacturing year after year very charming king size calendars exuding elegance, good taste and excellent pictures made by recognized aviation photographers like Ismael Abeytua, Javier Guerrero, Guillermo Blume and others.
The 2013 one, featuring
vintage aesthetics everywhere and providing the main technical data regarding
each depicted airplane, is really beautiful.
Beechcraft made by Ismael Abeytua.
Copyright Text and Photos: José Manuel Serrano Esparza
