| Esquadra 711 (711 Squadron) |
|
|---|---|
| Active | October 19, 1993 |
| Country | Portugal |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Role | Search and rescue |
| Home Base | Air Base 4 |
| Nickname | Albatrozes (Albatrosses) |
| Motto | "Para que outros vivam" (So that others may live) |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Major Joaquim Simões Gaspar (2005—2007) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma (1993—) |
| Patrol | CASA C-212 Aviocar (1993—2007) |
| Transport | CASA C-212 Aviocar (1993—2007) |
The 711 Squadron "Albatrozes" (Esquadra 711) is an aircraft squadron of the Portuguese Air Force. The squadron's primary mission is Search and Rescue and is the only squadron in the Portuguese military to operate both rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.
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Until 1993, two search and rescue squadrons were based at Lajes Air Force Base, Azores, the 503 "Golfinhos" and 752 Squadron "Pumas", respectively operating the CASA C-212 Aviocar and SA 330 Puma. On October 19, 1993, with the merger of these two squadrons the 711 Squadron was activated.
On November 30, 2006, the Helicopter Flight of the 711 Squadron was deactivated and the Azores Aerial Detachment of the 752 Squadron was activated with the entry in service of the AgustaWestland EH101 and subsequent replacement of the SA 330 Puma.
With further changes in the operational structure in Azores, the squadron was temporarily deactivated on April 11, 2007, being replaced by a detachment of the 502 Squadron in the missions executed by its fixed-wing aircraft.