New Portuguese transport squadron: 'Rinocerontes'
On 20 May 2023, a squadron activation ceremony took place at Air Base No.11 in Beja (Portugal).
At the event, chaired by the Chief of Staff of the Força Aérea Portuguesa (Portuguese Air Force), General João Cartaxo Alves, the Esquadra 506 “Rinocerontes” ("The Rhinos") was inducted.
The "Rinocerontes", will be the first European squadron and Portugal the second country in the world to operate the Embraer KC-390 Millennium.
Under the motto "only what se
emed impossible" the Portuguese 506th Squadron, now formalised, will soon be fully equipped with the KC-390 aircraft.
The tasks and mission of the KC-390 will consist of air operations in the scope of general air transport, firefighting and aerial refueling.
Earlier, Scramble Magazine wrote about the first KC-390 arriving on Portuguese soil and Portuguese KC-390 will be based at Beja .
Credit photos: Portuguese Air Force