102 Squadron "Panchos" was an elementary flight trainingsquadron of the Portuguese Air Force disbanded in 1992. Formed in 1962, the squadron administered air force training and performed at air shows throughout Portugal. Between 1963 and its disbandment in 1992, the squadron lost nine pilots.
History
The squadron's heritage began in the early 1960s when Basic Flight Instruction Squadron No. 2, "Os Panchos", was constituted at Air Base No. 1, flying the Cessna T-37 Tweet entering service with the Portuguese Air Force. Together with Basic Flight Instruction Squadron No. 1, which flew the North American T-6, formed the Basic Flight Training Group. The first twelve T-37C aircraft arrived in December 1962 as kits and were assembled at the OGMA workshops in February 1963. The remaining 18 aircraft arrived in batches of six, with the deliveries taking place in March 1964, June 1964, and the last six in January 1965.
Activation
The squadron was assigned the flight instruction of the aeronautic flight course's students of the Military Academy and was divided into two flights : Esquadrilha n° 1, "Feras", and Esquadrilha n° 2, "Águias". Later it was also assigned the role of instructing the basic flight courses, at first alongside E.I.B.P. 1, which was later transferred to Air Base No. 7, Portugal - Air Force AN0351427.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Portuguese Air Force T-37C in formation Upon reactivation the following year, the demonstration team continued its training and started to perform at air shows. In 1969, the team's name was changed to "Diabos Vermelhos". The number of demonstrations was increased. In 1970 the team was inactivated during the Colonial War. The flight demonstration team was temporarily reactivated in 1973, as "Os Panchos", to perform at the commemoration of the centennial birth of Alberto Santos-Dumont. In 1976 the team was reactivated and in 1977 the Portuguese Air Force officially established the flight demonstration team Asas de Portugal as the national aerobatic flying team. In 1977 the squadron was re-designated as 102 Squadron and transferred to Air Base No. 11 as part of the reorganization of the Air Force's operational structure of 1978 and became the only squadron to administer basic flight training. The squadron was disbanded on August 8, 1992, when the T-37C was officially retired from service.
Losses
On February 3, 1964, the first crash of a PoAF T-37C occurred, killing both pilots. Between November 10, 1964, and December 9, 1990, six more crashes took place and caused the loss of seven more pilots.
Lineage
Constituted as Esquadra de Instrução Básica de Pilotagem Nº 2 in 1963
