Una Leyenda en Vuelo
(A Legend in Flight)
Oil on Stretched Canvas 36” x 24”
This painting was commissioned by the Spanish Air Force, to celebrate achieving 300,000 flying hours with their F-5’s.
The three main variants flown by the three squadrons/wings with the greatest number of hours are included in the painting.
F-5M – Ala 23, Talavera La Real Airbase
RF-5A – 211 Sqn, Ala 21, Moron Airbase
F-5A – 464 Sqn, Ala 46, Gando Airbase
One of the F-5M’s from Ala 23 had a special commemorative tail design added as part of the celebrations, and this design is included in the painting.
The Creative Process pages provide a detailed insight into how this painting was developed.
Custom commemorative prints were produced in association with Indra Group. Copies were presented to F-5 pilots at a special event.
"Neil Hipkiss has created far more than a painting—he has captured the history, spirit, and legacy of the F-5 in Spanish service. To commemorate the Spanish Air and Space Force’s milestone of 300,000 flying hours on the F-5, he brought together three generations of this remarkable aircraft in a composition that is both historically accurate and visually striking. His meticulous attention to detail, deep understanding of aviation history, and exceptional artistic skill have produced a masterpiece that will inspire everyone who sees it. ... Thanks in part to this painting, the F-5 will be remembered within the Spanish Air and Space Force as A Legend in Flight. We could not be happier with the result."
Colonel Daniel Fernández de Bobadilla Lorenzo
Spanish Air and Space Force
Talavera la Real Air Base and 23rd Wing Commander (Oct 24 - Sep 26).
