Short Feature Article with Manuel Magrinho
Just before we get started, here’s a look at how it all turned out…
The 5523
On October 8, 1984, the day of Squadron 304 – ‘Magnificos’ (Magnificent), his first Corsair A-7P arrived, in this case the 5523 (registration 153159 in US NAVY). This aircraft would become a symbol of the squadron, (even bearing the symbol of the 304 on the tail) as it was the first to be operated by the ‘Magníficos’.
The 5523 flew just 527 hours in Portugal (in addition to the 3884 flown in US service). Unfortunately, it would crash during the approach to Air Base nº 6 – Montijo on April 29, 1992, sadly killing her pilot, Aviator António José Henrique dos Santos.
The engine suffered a bird-strike and, in order to avoid hitting the residential area, the pilot tried to reach the runway ending up crashing a few hundred meters from the threshold. A failure in the system prevented the ejection of the pilot, who did not survive the impact with the ground.