Getafe Air Base (Base Aérea de Getafe)

Getafe Air Base is located 14 km south of Madrid, Spain. Established permanently in 1920, it is among the earliest air bases in the country. The site was the location of the first autogyro flight by Juan de la Cierva and the establishment of the Civil Aviation School in 1922. Between 1930 and 1931, it functioned as the primary civil airport for Madrid.

The Spanish Air and Space Force operates the facility under the command of Carlos Sánchez Bas. The primary resident unit is Ala 35, a military transport wing. Ala 35 operates eighteen CASA CN-235 (T.19-B) and nine CASA C-295 (T.21) logistics transport aircraft, as well as two T.19-A aircraft configured for VIP missions. Other stationed units include 409 Escuadrón CECAF-Getafe, which performs cartographic, photographic, and VIP liaison duties, and the fixed-wing element of the 803 Escuadrón (Ala 48) for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. The base also hosts the Madrid Pharmacy Center (CEFARMA).

Industrial infrastructure adjacent to the base includes Airbus Spain facilities. These installations manufacture components for the Airbus group and assemble Eurofighter aircraft for the Spanish military. Airbus utilizes the air base for the maintenance and modernization of Spanish Air and Space Force aircraft.

Recent organizational changes involved the restructuring of the 42 Grupo de FF.AA. Its 422 Squadron relocated to Villanubla Air Base, while the 421 Squadron was absorbed into the 409 Escuadrón CECAF-Getafe. The base marked its centenary of operation in 2020.