A Piece of Portuguese Aviation History Above Magoito!

Their history is also closely connected to the Portuguese Air Force Academy in Sintra, where these remarkable aircraft have continued to serve in training and glider-towing operations.

We recently had the privilege of capturing three de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk aircraft flying over the skies of Magoito, near Sintra.

Designed in Canada, these elegant aircraft made their first flight in 1946 and became an important part of military pilot training.

Portugal received its first ten Chipmunks in 1951, with a further 66 aircraft subsequently built under licence by OGMA in Alverca, contributing to the development of the country's aviation industry.

Unlike combat aircraft, the Chipmunk was primarily designed for flight training, helping generations of Portuguese pilots take their first steps in aviation.

More than just an unexpected sighting, this was a beautiful encounter with Portuguese aviation history, set against the breathtaking landscape between the Sintra Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.

📸 Photographed above Magoito, Portugal.