Bolivian Air Force

The Bolivian Air Force (F.A.B) Is the air branch of the Bolivian Armed Forces. It is also the air force that has the highest base in the world, El Alto airport in Bolivia

History
The history of military flight in the country of Andes began back in 1917 when the three officers 's army were allowed to attend school 's Airfield El Poloma in Argentine. However to get to the creation of a real military aircraft must wait for the creation of the Cuerpo de Militares Aviadores Bolivian in 1924. This body will be supplanted by the Cuerpo de Aviación during Chaco War fought against Paraguay in 1932. This allows the Bolivia to qualify as the first nation in Latin America to use combat aircraft in real actions. Nevertheless, the country loses the war and with it political and economic stability necessary to maintain a minimal fleet of military aircraft.

In 1944 yet another transformation for the national military aviation landscape. The Cuerpo de Aviación lagging behind the modern Bolivian Air Force organization that reflects the far more noble and famous USAAF.

Quest'affinità American colleague Bolivian port pilots at the controls of the most famous airplanes of the country where the Stars and Stripes North American AT -6 Texan, armed training aircraft, and bomber B- 25J Mitchell followed the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress in 1956 with the dual role of bomber / transport aircraft.

About four years later there's the hunting piston P-51 Mustang helix followed by Fairchild PT-19 and Fokker S-11 products Brazil license. This prepares the aircraft at the first jet aircraft that will materialize in 1973 with the acquisition of fifteen Canadair T -33 Silver Stars Mk.3. But this is not enough to satisfy the young air force in 1980 would buy significant quantities of Dassault Mirage 5, SEPECAT Jaguar and IAI Kfir C2. But these desires are regularly afflicted by the economic situation of the country not happy that inhibits several other projects to modernize ancient Bolivarian fleet.