The skies over Motril are once again preparing for one of the Costa Tropical’s biggest summer spectacles. Aircraft taking part in the XX Motril International Air Festival are already carrying out practice flights over Poniente Beach, building anticipation ahead of the event this Sunday, 21 June.
In the days leading up to the show, various helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft have been performing training manoeuvres visible from the coastline, drawing growing attention from both residents and visitors. The event, which will begin at 11:00 a.m., will transform the seafront into an uninterrupted aerial stage for around four hours of continuous displays.
The twentieth edition of the festival will bring together a wide range of civilian and military aircraft from different countries and specialist units. One of this year’s key international highlights is Germany’s participation with the Tornado fighter jet, which will take part in a flying demonstration, alongside the first-ever appearance by the United States with the Seahawk naval helicopter, one of the most advanced platforms for maritime operations.
Alongside these international additions, the program will feature helicopters and aircraft from various branches of the Spanish Air and Space Force, showcasing transport, rescue, and operational manoeuvres. Emergency and public service agencies will also take part, including the Civil Guard, National Police, Maritime Rescue, and the Andalusian forest firefighting service (Infoca), demonstrating their capabilities in surveillance, rescue operations, and firefighting missions.
The display will also include historic aircraft and aerobatic performances, with the Hispano Aviación Saeta standing out as one of the most emblematic aircraft of Spanish aviation history. Closely linked to Motril’s aeronautical heritage, its participation adds a nostalgic and symbolic dimension to the show.
The Festival Aéreo Internacional de Motril has become one of Spain’s most prominent air shows over the past two decades. It regularly attracts massive crowds to the beaches of Motril, with previous editions exceeding 200,000 spectators, reinforcing its strong tourism and economic impact on the region.
Originally created as a small local initiative linked to the city’s heliport, the festival has grown into a major national and international aviation showcase. With rehearsals already underway and the coastline looking skyward, Motril is set for a weekend where the shoreline once again becomes a vast natural amphitheatre for aviation.
