At Sintra our host was Cdr Miranda of 401 Squadron, being a photographer himself he know exactly what we wanted. The Sintra Air Base is located at Granja do Marquês near the Sintra mountain range. Its origin dates back to 1914 when, on May 14, the President Manuel de Arriaga promulgated a law creating the Military Aviation School.  Later, in 1928, it was renamed Military Aeronautics School until its deactivation in October 1939, when it became Airbase 1. In 1993, the Flying Training Squadron 101 was transferred to Air Base 11, at Beja. This squadron was commissioned in 1989, after the deactivation of Squadron 102.

Two operational flying units are based at Sintra; 401 Squadron and 502 Squadron. Other units based at Sintra are the Academia da Força Aérea (Air Force Academy)  and the Instituto de Altos Estudos da Força Aérea (Air Force Institute Command and Staff College).

Also at Sintra is a part of the Air Force Museum branch at the moment the Air Force is planning to move the complete collection from all different locations to Sintra. To start a complete collection in a new build facility. Restoration on the stored aircraft from OGMA has started with N2502  6403 being the first one in the process

401 Squadron "Cientistas" (Scientists) operates both variants of the Casa 212 (C.212-100 and C.212-300). They execute air reconnaissance missions and also maritime surveillance and electronic warfare missions.

502 Squadron "Elefantes" (elephants) operates the Casa C-212-100 in the transport role. All the FTB-337G's used to be assigned to 505 Squadron "Jakarés" (Alligators) but are at the moment allocated to 502 Squadron. This aircraft can operate from short runways because of its STOL-capacity. (Short Take-Off and Landing). For take off it needs 125 meter and for landing 137 meter. They are at the moment in there last months of operational life with the Air Force

The Academia da Força Aérea (Air Force Academy), use the good old Chipmunk Mk.20 for selection and elementary training of the cadets. On the day off our visit they did a four ship pass, a site not seen very often anymore.