Location
The area of land where Air Base 1 and the Air Force Academy are currently situated has a long history behind it. This was attested by the discovery of a grave from the Neolithic period, as well as remains of the presence of Romans and Arabs in the region. It once belonged to the military-religious orders.
In the 17th century, according to legend, there was an apparition of Our Lady of Nazaré, and the estate became known as Granja da Nazaré. Later, a chapel was built here whose construction was finished in 1701. After the Marquis of Pombal became the owner of the farm and its grange it changed its name to Granja do Marquês. In 1862, Pombal's heirs rented out the land so that the Quinta Regional de Sintra (Sintra Regional Farm) could be established.
On 5 February 1920, the Military Aviation School, which had been operating at Vila Nova da Rainha, was transferred to Granja do Marquês.
On 14 August 1926 an image of the Assumption of the Virgin was offered to the chapel. That image was renamed Our Lady of the Air, was confirmed as such in 1960 by Pope John XXIII and proclaimed "Patron Saint of Portuguese Aviators". In 1995 it would be enthroned as patron saint of all aviators.
In December 1937, Sintra Air Base was created, and two years later it would be given the name it still carries: Air Base 1 (Base Aérea 1) – the oldest base of the Portuguese Air Force.
For many years this was the place where both Air Force pilots and technicians got their training. Its most important training aircraft were the Tiger, the T-6 and the T-37. It was also the home base of the aerobatics team Asas de Portugal.
Even though it does not really belong to Air Base 1, AFA depends on it for support in the areas of security, transport, health care, catering and flight training.
Read more about this topic: Portuguese Air Force Academy