With Bell 47 the first helicopter built in larger numbers is available to this time, thus it is not amazing that also the Spanish Navy decided to use this type. The training of the first Spanish naval pilots took place in 1954 at the Bell's aircraft corporation in Fort Worth, Texas. After the first three Bell 47 reached Spain by the sea route on 1 June 1954, the helicopter squadron, Escuadrilla de Helicópteros was set up at Rota. Thus the year 1954 can be regarded as the birth of the Spanish Naval Aviation.
In 1956 additional three Bell 47G and two Bell 47D-1 were already procured, whose major task was from now on the training of the naval pilots. On 15.09.1957 the structure of the naval aviation unit was changed. At the end of September 1957 the Bell 47 formed the first group, primer Grupo de Helicópteros de la Armada, but however already in 1961 it was decided to return  to the organization into squadrons. Starting from 06.03.1961 the Bell 47 formed the Primera Escuadrilla. In almost 30 years this everlasting helicopter model fulfilled its tasks until 1987 when the last Bell 47 were withdrawn from the active service and the Primera Escuadrilla was dissolved on 30.06.1987

The tasks of the naval pilots were expanded with the submarines hunt at the end of the 50's. Because the only available helicopter the Bell 47 could not fulfil this role, a new ASW helicopter model was introduced with the Sikorsky HRS-3. Altogether 7 machines were bought. After the restructuring of the year 1957 the HRS-3 formed the second group, Segundo Grupo and from 06.03.1961 the Segunda Escuadrilla.
Until 1978 the HRS-3 remained in the service of the naval aviation. When the last Sikorsky HRS-3 was retired, also the 2. squadron was disbanded on 01.03.1978. and the substantially more efficient SH-3D Sea King took over the tasks of the HRS-3.

A third squadron, the Tercera Escuadrilla, was set up on 07.10.1964. To create the submarine fight more effective and also to take over the tasks of transportation, 4 Agusta Bell 204B ASW were supplied from Italy. Already at the beginning of the 70's the Spanish Navy began to think about a successor for the Bell 204, the choice fall finally on the Agusta Bell 212 ASW, between February 1974 and June 1980 the 3. Squadron received 14 AB.212. Still before the distribution of the last AB.212 the Bell 204 was finally withdrawn in the year 1979, 3 machines went to the army aviation and one to the naval museum at San Fernando.
The modern AB.212 is classified in the same category as the Bell 204, but covers a substantially larger spectrum of use. The Bell 212 took over, apart from the submarines defence, also the tasks of transportation, rescue missions and the duty of  support for the Spanish MARINES, with a possible armament with machine guns and rocket pods. At present 10 AB.212 are used by the 3. Squadron.
During the deployment to the carrier "Principe de Asturias", the AB.212 takes over mainly the SAR role. During daytime the SAR crew holds itself in readiness on board, but during night operations a machine is constantly in the air nearby the carrier. Some of the Bell.212 recently sported UN markings for operations in Afghanistan.

In January 1964 6 naval pilots were selected, in order to acquire the pilot license for fixed-wing aircraft at Cuatro Vientos. After the training these pilots had to take over the training of further naval pilots. As trainer aircraft 2 Piper PA-24 Comanche and 2 Piper PA-30 twin Comanche were selected in August 1964. All four machines were supplied by the Spanish company of AERLYPER S.A. at the end of 1964. At 21.10.1964 they were integrated in the new  Cuarta Escuadrilla. Up to the year 1977 the 4 Piper were flown with civilian registrations, on 21.01.1977 they were officially subordinated to the navy and military registrations were added. In December 1982 and in February 1983 the 4. squadron received 2 Cessna 550C Citation, in addition to the 4 Piper. With the purchase of a third Cessna in July 1989 the decision fell for the final retirement of the Pipers, 2 were already withdrawn in the year 1988. The third Piper followed in September 1989 and the latter in the year 1992.

In the middle of the 60's it was obvious that the Bell 47, HRS-3 and AB.204 were not able anymore to fulfil the entire constantly rising task range of the naval pilots. In November 1965 pilots and technicians of the Spanish navy, were send to Key West the USA to begin a 7 month education on the newest helicopter sample of the Spanish Navy, the Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King. Even if the first SH-3 was delivered in the middle of 1966, the Quinta Escuadrilla was already set up as the new Sea King squadron on 19.02.1966.  Altogether 18 Sea King are procured, six in 1967, further 2 in the year 1972, four in 1974 and again 6 machines in 1981.
In order to be able to expand the operational area of the naval aviation, the Spanish Navy considered the acquisition of an aircraft carrier. The choice fell on the "USS Cabot", a 16,000 tons carrier of the Independence class, which ran from the pile on 4 April 1943 in the USA and was 12 years long mothballed after the de-activating from the U. S. Navy. The carrier received the name "Dédalo" and was put in service in 1967. First a borrowing contract with the USA was made, which was converted however into a purchase in 1972.
The Sea King operates also from the "Dédalo" but with the procurement of the SH-60 in the year 1988, which took over the submarine hunt, SH-3D was used for other tasks, like the transport of special forces also from the landing boats "SPS Galicia (L51)" and "SPS Castilla (L52)" of the Armada Española. Only 3 of the Sea King remained as SH-3AEW in the antisubmarine chase role.
On 30.05.1988 the new Spanish aircraft carrier "Principe de Asturias" was activated after some years of modernization. The flag ship of the Spanish navy replaced the "Dédalo", which was withdrawn in 1989. The "Principe de Asturias" could take 12 Harrier and maximally 12 helicopters of the types SH-3 and AB.212 on board.

In the beginning of the 70's the American government continued trying to bind Franco Spain to the USA and/or NATO by military auxiliary supplies. A part of this military aid were 5 destroyers of the "Gearing class", which offer the possibility to the Spanish Navy to use helicopters over sea. In April 1972 the Hughes 500 ASW was transferred into the inventory of the Spanish Naval aviation as an onboard helicopter. Therefore the Sexta Escuadrilla was formed on 11.04.1972 with 5 helicopters. In the subsequent years additional Hughes 500 could be supplied to the squadron, 7 at the beginning of 974, as well as one each in 1976 and 1977. At present there are still 10 machines in use. For the employment over sea the Hughes 500 will be equipped with a floats system at the skids. An additional task for the agile and easily handling Hughes 500 becomes the pilot training.

For the support of landing operations of the naval infantry and as escort for the remaining helicopters of the Spanish navy a combat helicopter had to be purchased. The Bell AH-1G Huey Cobra seemed to be most suitable for these tasks. In 1972 the Séptma Escuadrilla was established with four AH-1 and was strengthened in 1973 by additional four Cobras. After 12 years in service the 7. Squadron with their AH-1 was disbanded in October 1984. Until 1987 the 3. Squadron took over four of the AH-1Gs.

With the creation of the Octava Escuadrilla on 04.09.1976 a new age began for the naval pilots at Rota. The first jet of the Spanish navy, the AV-8A(S) ‘Matador’ was introduced to the naval aviation. Altogether 6 single-seat AV-8A(S) and two doubleseater TAV-8A were already operational with the 8. squadron in September 1976. End of 1980, beginning of 1981 another 5 Matadors were procured. The AV-8 was chosen to operate from the aircraft carrier ‘Dédalo’ to take over the protection of the fleet. For operations of the AV-8 from the ‘Dédalo’, the carrier was modernized in the year 1976, it received strengthened flight deck.

Already at the beginning of the 80's the Spanish Navy thought about a replacement for the AV-8A. As the new aircraft had to be also a VTOL aircraft, the most modern variant of the Harrier, the AV-8B offers itself as a successor. In 1983 the Navy ordered 12 AV-8B Harrier II in the USA. This version offered better performance and handling. It had a newly designed wing, which offered better performance at high speeds, better fuel consumption and increased fuel capacity. On 29.09.1987 the Novena Escuadron was set up and the first 3 Harrier, now designated as EAV-8B Matador arrived in October 1987 at Rota, the remainder followed by September 1988. The two Harrier versions AV-8A(S) and EAV-8B were first operated parallel until in 1993 8 modern EAV-8B+ were ordered. The EAV-8B+ reached Spain between January 1996 and September So the Navy was able to retire the AV-8As from service. 1997. and the 8. squadron was dissolved on 24.10.1996. The 7 AV-8A and the 2 TAV-8 were handed over to the Thai Navy.
Additionally to the 8 supplied EAV-8B+ five of the remaining nine EAV-8B Harriers were modernized with CASA in Spain and brought to the B+ standard, three aircraft were lost in accidents. In the year 2000 a doubleseated TAV-8B was handed over to the 9. squadron. In April 2003 also a EAV-8B+ was lost in a crash. The Armada Española is now celebrating thirty years of Harrier operations, divided over three generations of this famous vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The newest and most modern helicopter model of the ARMADA is the Sikorsky SH-60B.  6 machines of the Seahawk were transferred to the 10. Squadron in Rota in December 1988. They were also chosen to be based on the four FFG-7 frigates (F-80 Santa Maria class). The Sea Hawk, that received the Spanish registration HS.23, is comparably with the U. S. Navy SH-60B, but is however equipped with a Honeywell TO AQS-13F sonar. A contract was closed in the end of 2000 included the procurement of further 6 helicopters and also the upgrade of the Sea Hawks already in service. The modernization contained the possibility for armament and the use of the AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-119 Penguin ASM. In October 2002 5 new SH-60B were delivered and the latter in May 2003.

The aim for the future is standardization of the helicopter types. The AB.212, SH-3D and Hughes 500 are to be replaced by 28 modern NH-90. The planning is that about 2010 the 3. Squadron will operate with 14 NH-90 TTH as transportation helicopters for the transfer of troops during maritime operations. The 6. Squadron will use 6 NH-90AEW for the submarine defence and 8 NH-90 NFH multi-purpose helicopter. In the future a 27,000 tons troop transport vessel, which can take up to 30 helicopters, will operate beside the "Principe de Asturias"  and ensures the mobility of the Spanish Navy
If the Spanish government should decide for the F-35B joint Strike Fighter program, a Future carrier, CVF with beyond the 30,000 tons will be probably as replacement for the "Principe de Asturias" .

I would like to thank Capitan de Corbeta Angel Fernandez Lahera for the friendly support during my attendance at Rota and for the providing of historical pictorial material

Text and Photos: Jens Schymura, www.hat-home.de