Puerto de la Cruz International Aeromodelism Festival draws Eurofighter jets and BHelma VI helicopter

The Puerto de la Cruz International Aeromodelism and Aeronautics Festival took place on 26 July 2026 on the port promenade of the town, adjacent to the historic Santa Bárbara battery. Hundreds of residents and visitors attended as part of the municipality’s July celebrations.

The programme featured aerial displays by the Spanish Air and Space Force’s Ala 46, with Eurofighter combat aircraft performing up to four low‑level passes over the coast. On the ground, a BHelma VI helicopter from the Army, drones, emergency‑service vehicles and flight simulators were shown, allowing the public to photograph military equipment and try pilot training modules. Mayor Leopoldo Afonso highlighted the event’s blend of tradition and modern technology and its educational value in bringing the Armed Forces and security bodies closer to the local community.

The festival traces its roots to 1913, when French aviator Maurice Poument made early flights over the San Felipe ravine, followed by Lucien Demazel in 1914. Formal aeromodelism began in 1981, and past editions have hosted figures such as astronaut Pedro Duque, the Patrulla Águila squadron, model‑maker Juan Cerdán and helicopter‑radio‑control pioneer Ferman.