Spain
Contents
Key Facts
| Date of Independence: | 1516 |
| Total Area Ranking: | 51st in the World |
| Population Size Ranking: | 27th in the World |
| GDP Ranking: | 12th in the World |
The Country
Geography
Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula in south western Europe, separated from Africa by only a narrow strait. It is bordered by France to the north east, the Mediterranean Sea to the east and south, Portugal to the west and the Bay of Biscay to the north. The UK territory of Gibraltar, which is situated at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, also has a border with Spain. Spanish territory includes the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands and two Spanish enclaves on the coast of Morocco: Ceuta and Melilla.
Much of Spain is dominated by a central plateau, called the Meseta, some 600 m (1970 ft) above sea level. To the north lies a range of mountains, the Cordillera Cantabrica which run along the entire northern coast. These mountains join up with the Pyrenees which form the French-Spanish border. In the south, the Sierra Nevada mountains are separated from the central region by the valley of the river Guadalquivir. In the centre, a further mountain range, the Sierra de Guadarrama, crosses the Meseta diagonally. The total land area is 499,440 sq km (192,854 sq miles).
The Population of 39.8 million (2000 figure) comprises 72% of Castilian Spanish origin, 17% Catalan, 6% Gallician, 2% Basque, 1% Romany and 1% other ethnic groups. Some 96% of the people are Roman Catholic and 4% other faiths. The capital city is Madrid.
National History
Timeline – Key Dates in Spanish History
Further National Information
BBC News Profile: Spain
Yahoo Spain page
wikipedia: Spain
wikipedia: History of Spain
Aviation
Text to be added on the development of aviation in Spain.
Markings
Civil Aircraft Registrations
Spanish civil aircraft were registered in the series M-AAAA onwards from 1919, then EC-AAA onwards from 1931.
An incomplete all-time Spanish civil aircraft register listing is here.
Aircraft Operators
Military Air Arms
Current military air arms-
Air Force (Ejercito Del Aire)
Naval Aviation (Arma Aerea de la Armada Espanola)
Army Aviation (Fuerza Aeromoviles Del Ejercito Del Tierra)
Historical military air arms-
Air Force [1911-1939]
Naval Aviation [1917-1937]
Central Government Agencies
Customs Service (Vigilancia Aduanera)
Civil Guard (Guardia Civil)
Public Service Aviation
Medical Aviation
Fire Fighting Aviation (Bomberos)
Maritime Rescue (Salvamento Maritimo)
Police Aviation (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía)
Commercial Aviation
Air Europa
Air Nostrum
Aviaco [1948-1998]
Binter Canarias
Clickair
Futura International
Helicsa
Helisureste
Iberia
Spanair
Swiftair
VIVA Air [1988-1998]
Vueling
wikipedia: Airlines of Spain
The World’s Airlines: Spain
Private Aviation
To be added.
Industry
Aircraft Manufacturers
Aerotecnica
AISA
CASA
Hispano Aviacion
Aircraft Maintenance/Repair Depots
None known.
Airfields
Civil Airports & Airfields
Military Air Bases & Airfields
Military Air Bases Listing – to be added.
On Show
Aviation Museums
Fundacion Infante de Orleans
Parc Aeronautic de Catalunya
Museo del Aire
Museo Nacional de Aeropuertos y Transporte Aereo
Airshow Dates
More Information
Aviation-Related Magazines
Magazines Guide for Spain
Aviation Bibliography
Spanish Aviation Bibliography – to be added
Web Links
1 May 2011 7:53 am | Last Updated 1 May 2011 7:53 am | 
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