The Rota City Council has announced the addition of a Guardia Civil aircraft to the Base Forum museum project, an exhibition space that will explore the town's connection with defense and security. The aircraft, a BK-117B2 model retired from active service, will become part of the display dedicated to the locality's recent history and the Civil Guard's work in the area.
This exhibit, which accumulated over 10,000 flight hours and was assigned to the Guardia Civil Air Unit in Rota until January 2023, measures nearly ten meters in length and is equipped with two turbo-shaft engines. Its inclusion in the future cultural and museum center will help preserve a significant part of the city's history and the Guardia Civil's operations in the region.
The mayor of Rota, José Javier Ruiz Arana, along with deputy mayor Encarna Niño and representatives from the Guardia Civil, including the chief colonel of the Cadiz command, Luis Martín, visited the site where the helicopter will be displayed. Base Forum, expected to open in the autumn, aims to showcase the evolution of Rota and its relationship with security and defense institutions.
The Guardia Civil Air Unit in Rota, operational since 2000, has completed over 7,000 missions and 10,000 flight hours, participating in anti-drug trafficking efforts, maritime surveillance, and rescue operations. Notable interventions include the seizure of 100 tons of narcotics and assistance to over 11,000 migrants.
Base Forum will also cover the coexistence of the US Navy and the Spanish Navy in the city, as well as Rota's transformation from the 18th century to the present day, shaped by the Naval Base and over 60 years of American presence. The museum project, funded by ITI and EDUSI funds, is in its final stages of execution and content organization.
