Philippine Air Force
| Philippine Air Force Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas |
|
|---|---|
Seal of the Philippine Air Force
|
|
| Active | July 1, 1947 |
| Country |
 Philippines |
| Type | Air force |
| Size | 243 total aircraft |
| Part of |
 Philippine Armed Forces
|
| Headquarters | Villamor Air Base |
| Nickname(s) | PAF |
| March | Philippine Air Force Hymn |
| Engagements | World War II, OEF – Philippines, Communist insurgencies, Moro insurgencies, Zamboanga City crisis |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Secretary of National Defense | Delfin Lorenzana |
| Commanding General | Lt Gen Edgar Fallorina |
| Chief of Staff | General Ricardo Visaya |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Low visibility roundel |  |
| Flag |  |
| Patch |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | AS-211, SF-260TP/MP, OV-10A/C/M |
| Fighter | FA-50 |
| Helicopter | Bell 412EP, UH-1 Huey, W-3A, S-70 Blackhawk, MD520MG, S-76A/AUH-76 |
| Patrol | F27-200MAR |
| Reconnaissance | Aero Commander |
| Trainer | SF-260FH, T-41B/D |
| Transport | IPTN NC-212 Aviocar, C-130B/H/T, FFokker F27, F-28-3000, N-22B, C-295 |
The Philippine Air Force (PAF; Tagalog: Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas; Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Filipina) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"To organize, train, equip, maintain and provide forces to conduct prompt and sustained air operations to accomplish the AFP mission"
"A Professional and Competent Air Force Responsive to National Security and Development"
Integrity, Service, Teamwork, Excellence, Professionalism
The forerunners of the Philippine Air Force was the Philippine Militia, otherwise known as Philippine National Guard (PNG). On March 17, 1917 Senate President Manuel L. Quezon enacted a bill (Militia Act 2715) for the creation of the Philippine Militia. It was enacted in anticipation that there would be an outbreak of hostilities between United States and Germany.
By the end of the First World War, the US Army and Navy began selling aircraft and equipment to the Philippine Militia Commission. The Commission then hired the services of the Curtiss School of Aviation to provide flight training to 33 students at a local base in Parañaque.
The early aviation unit was, however, still lacking enough knowledge and equipment to be considered as an air force and was then limited only to air transport duties. On January 2, 1935, Philippine Military Aviation was activated when the 10th Congress passed Commonwealth Act 1494 that provided for the organization of the Philippine Constabulary Air Corps (PCAC). PCAC was renamed as the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) in 1936. It started with only three planes on its inventory. In 1941, PAAC had a total of 54 aircraft including pursuit (fighters) light bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, light transport and trainers. They later engaged the Japanese when they invaded the Philippines in 1941–42, and were reformed in 1945 after the country's liberation.
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Wikipedia