Argentine air force
| Argentine Air Force Fuerza Aérea Argentina |
|
|---|---|
The Argentine Air Force Emblem.
|
|
| Active | 1945–Present |
| Country | Argentina |
| Size | 14,600 personnel 163 aircraft |
| March | Alas Argentinas (Argentine Wings) |
| Anniversaries | August 10 (anniversary) May 1 (Baptism of fire during the Falklands War) |
| Battle honours |
Operativo Independencia (1975-1977) Bosnia (1992-1995) Cyprus (1993-present) Kosovo (1999-present) Haiti (2004-present) |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of Staff | Lieutenant-General Enrique Víctor Amrein |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Fin Flash |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Pucará, A-4AR |
| Fighter | A-4AR |
| Helicopter | Bell 212, Hughes 500D, SA315 |
| Trainer | T-34, Tucano, Pampa, Grob 120TP |
| Transport | C-130, Fokker F28, Fokker F27, DHC-6 |
Operativo Independencia (1975-1977)
Operation Soberanía (1978)
Falkland Islands (1982)
Gulf War (1990-1991)
The Argentine Air Force (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Argentina, or simply FAA) is the national aviation branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. In 2010 it had 14,600 military personnel and 6,900 civilian personnel.
The Air Force's history begins with the establishment of the Army Aviation Service's Escuela de Aviación Militar (Military Aviation School) on 10 August 1912. Several military officers were amongst the pioneers of Argentine aviation, including Jorge Newbery, a retired Argentine Navy officer. The school began to turn out military pilots who participated in milestone events in Argentine aviation, such as the crossing of the Andes mountains.
In 1927 the Dirección General de Aeronáutica (General Directorate of Aeronautics) was created to coordinate the country's military aviation. In that same year the Fábrica Militar de Aviones (Military Aircraft Factory, FMA), which would become the heart of the country's aviation industry, was founded in Córdoba.
By 1938–39 Argentina's air power had about 3,200 staff (including about 200 officers), and maintained about 230 aircraft. About 150 of these were operated by the army and included Dewoitine D.21 and Curtiss P-36 Hawk fighters; Breguet 19 reconnaissance planes; Northrop A-17 and Martin B-10 bombers, North American NA-16 trainers, Focke-Wulf Fw 58 as multi-role planes, and Junkers Ju 52 and Fairchild 82 transports. About 80 were operated by the navy and included the Supermarine Southampton, Supermarine Walrus, Fairey Seal, Fairey III, Vought O2U Corsair, Consolidated P2Y, Curtiss T-32 Condor II, Douglas Dolphin and Grumman J2F Duck.
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