Day 9: Thu 22 Sep

19-33 deg C

Walk: 5.2km

The bus picked us up from our hotel just before 8:30am and we headed out to the Morón Air Base, which although Spanish, it does host a contingent of USAF personnel and equipment. Due to our late departure, we arrived later than the Bae Commander was expecting. Hence, after the obligatory group photo taken by the base photographer, we were ushered into the auditorium/pilot training room for a presentation from the base commander.

The base has had a number of names over the years, with the current name being given in 1999. It has a perimeter of 22km; area of 3500 acres and is the workplace of 2500 personnel, including approx 500 USAF personnel. The following units are within the 22km perimeter:

- 11 Wing - C16 Eurofighter, P3 Orion, and Pilot Synthetic Training System (PSTS)

- SEADA - 2nd Air Deployment Squadron that provides support the 11 Wing

- Radar COVE - main radar for Low Earth Orbit regime Space Surveillance

- UME - 2nd Battalion of Intervention in Civil Emergencies

- USAF personnel and equipment.

As the P3 was introduced into service in 1968, the SPAF only have one aircraft still in operation. However, it is to be retired at the end of the year after one final deployment in the detection of illegal smuggling (goods and humans) and piracy. There are 80 Eurofighters in the SPAF, with its main role being air-air combat, with a few missions being air-to-ground.

After the presentation, we were allowed a comfort break before being shown the simulation centre, where they have two sim rooms. We had to leave our electronic devices outside the room, but were allowed to go into the room where a trainee was 'flying' and got to watch him land the plane. Would have been a tad more exciting had we all been able to have a go in the simulator!

Onto the bus to visit the C16 and P3. We were allowed to view the cockpit of the C16, which, when you think of what the aircraft can do, was pretty uninspiring. Sylvain was the only one allowed to climb into the seat and pretend he was Maverick. We were also allowed into the P3 and were warned to not congregate in the rear of the aircraft as it has a tendency to rock back onto it's tail! We all took heed of that warning.

Upon disembarking the P3, we all stood under the wings for protection from the sun and watched as four C16s landed then taxied back to their domes. Unbeknownst to us, the Base Commander (we presume) had given approval for one of the experienced pilots/trainers to give a little demo. And what an amazing display the pilot put on for us. At one stage, he was doing 500 knots and pulling 9Gs. He flew the aircraft like he was Maverick escaping death and destruction for about 15 minutes (imagine what that would have cost? And, just for a bunch of pharmacists - amazing). I did take a three minute video, however, until I can work out how to compress it, I can't post it. We asked if we could see the pilot and there he was, still able to walk in a straight line and talk coherently. He wasn't very young though, so has obviously been doing it for a while. Although the gray hair and beard may have been from all the G-stress on his body, who knows.

After all that excitement, it was a bit of an anticlimax to be back on the bus to visit the Tablada Base Pharmacy. However, this pharmacy is a little different to your usual base pharmacy in that it also does water testing and analysis to ensure the water on base is of the best quality; production of flight oxygen (for the pilots and crew) as it has to have less water and less methane than the normal medical oxygen; and they do urine analysis (every person on base is tested at least once a year for illegal substances. If illegal substances are detected, the samples are sent off to Madrid for further, in-depth analysis. The Spanish Armed Forces make a number of pharmaceuticals, mainly ones that are without commercial interests. They provide treatment to current military members, retired military members, and their families.

We then took a stroll to the Officers Mess for lunch, which was more like a banquet. There were four courses: salad with small prawns and a salmon mousse; "ajo blanco" a pureed blend of garlic, almonds and bread, served with a drizzle of olive oil and a grape cut in half (it was a cold dish and VERY nice); what looked like slow cooked beef with an onion/garlic/white wine sauce (another VERY nice dish); and a HUGE piece of carrot cake for dessert. And, beer and wine was also served, with water as well. Needless to say, we all caught a few Zs on the way back to the hotel a number of us are staying at.

Due to the Congress being once day shorter than it is normally, MEPS had to hire a room in the hotel to enable a few members the opportunity to give a presentation. After the presentations were made, everyone left for their respective hotels to freshen up and get glammed up for the MEPS Dinner that was held back at the Officers Mess at Tablada. Dinner was served a tad after 9pm, yes, 9pm! This is the usual time the Spaniard have their evening meal. Thankfully, I was able to grab 20 minutes on the bed before having to frock-up and head out on the bus. We were all hoping for a light dinner, after the unusually large lunch. But, no! Dinner was a five-course affair: meat and cheese to start; a plate of five smallish prawns; a white fish and small mussels with some kind of sauce; a delicious lump of beef cooked to perfection at medium-rare; and a bread-and-butter type of dessert with icecream. Talk about being over fed. Luckily for me though I didn't eat the two fishy dishes so wasn't as full as the others. We did not get back to the hotel until after midnight and it was about 1:30am by the time I was in bed.

A really enjoyable MEPS day out; one of the best in a long time.