As a journalist of blond persuasion, few site visits can offer the poetic beauty of gaining a story byline from a place called Moron.
Yes, such a place exists, and is in fact the home location for Spain's next-generation strike aircraft, the Eurofighter Typhoon. This is clearly no laughing matter, but nonetheless a key moment of a recent Eurofighter consortium-sponsored press tour to the base - which is located a short coach ride away from the southern Spanish city of Seville - was a photo stop beneath a traditional tile sign outside its splendid officers' mess. As the picture below shows, my confirmation as a moron is not only photographic; it is "oficiales" (accompanying me, in the red tie, is Damian Kemp from Jane's).
Spain's air force might be buying the smallest number of Typhoons among the four Eurofighter launch nations, but it undeniably has the best base name - although Germany deserves special praise for placing its first Eurofighters at the invitingly named Laage airbase near Rostock. On the evidence of my recent visit, Moron can also lay claim to providing the best lunch, comprising a mix of tapas and ice-cold cerveza followed by delicious paella and fine local wine.
So it's many thanks to all on the Spanish air force's 113 Sqn for looking after us so well and for providing a fascinating insight into their operations of the Eurofighter. And while we English speakers were busy chuckling about Moron signs, we learned that our talk of having our "pictures" taken made you smile too. Language is a funny thing, but that's a new piece of Spanish anatomical slang (of the male type) to add to my vocabulary. Gracias!
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