| Salvadoran Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 March 1923-present |
| Country | El Salvador |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Role | "To defend state sovereignty and integrity of the national airspace. Support surface forces in fulfilling their respective missions, contribute to maintaining internal peace, provide disaster relief and assisting national efforts in welfare works public ". |
| Size | 76 aircraft |
| Nickname(s) | Air Force El Salvador. |
| Colors | blue and white |
| Engagements | Honduras and Salvadorian conflict 1969, El Salvador civil war (1979-1992) |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |
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The Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña) is the air force of the Armed Forces of El Salvador, and is independent from the army and navy.
Early history[]
The air force was formed on 20 March 1923 during a period of heavy interest in aviation in El Salvador. In 1947 after signing the treaty of Rio (which was a mutual defence treaty among the states of America including the USA). El Salvador with a US air mission and increased transferes of aircraft El Salvador built up a large force of aircraft.[Clarification needed]
Recent operations[]
IAI Arava 201 of the Salvadorean Air Force in 1975
Douglas DC-6B of the Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena at Miami in 1975
The Salvadoran Air Force first saw action in the 1969 Football war against Honduras equipped with F4U Corsairs and P-51 Mustangs. From the late 1970s isolated terrorist actions rapidly developed into a civil war, US aid to El Savador in 1980 consisted of six UH-1Hs and four in 1981; they were used as gunships. Other deliveries brought that number up to 40 UH-1Hs in service.In February 1982 onwards the USA delivered eight A-37B Dragonflies, 12 UH-1Hs, four O-2As and three C-123Ks. In celebration of the 189th anniversary of the Armed Forces of El Salvador, 6 May 2013 the Salvadoran Government, announced the planned purchase of 10 A-37 aircraft from Chile.[1]
A four-engined Douglas DC-6B provided longer range logistical capability between 1975 and its retirement in 1998. It was used on supply flights to and from the United States.[2] In December 1984 two AC-47s were delivered to be in service with the other three C-47s in use. The civil war ended in mutual exhaustion in 1990 and the airforce was geared for internal security.
Aircraft inventory[]
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | Dates | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna T-41 Mescalero | United States | Trainer | T-41D | 1 | FAS 95 | ||
| ENAER T-35 Pillan[3] |  Chile |
Trainer | T-35A T-35B |
2 3 |
FAS-70,71,72,73,74 | ||
| Fouga Magister[3] |  France |
Jet trainer | 1 | Damaged | FAS-510 | ||
| C-47D transport[4] | United States | Military transport aircraft | 3 | FAS 106,124 and 109 are part of military aviation museum. | |||
| Basler BT-67[3] | United States | Tactical Transport | 2 | Both aircraft have been repaired and are ready for any mission, FAS 116 and 118. | |||
| IAI Arava 202[3] |  Israel |
Transport | 3 | FAS-801,802,803 | |||
| UH-1H[3] | United States | Utility helicopter | UH-1H | 7 | FAS 208,215,261,283,292,297,300. 5 more will be repaired in 2013. | ||
| Bell UH-1M[5] | United States | Utility helicopter and Attack helicopter, El Salvador is the only country that have both male and female pilots who fly the UH-1M | 3 | FAS-228,323 | |||
| Bell 412[3] | United States | Utility helicopter | 412EP | 4 | One is occupied by the presidency of El Salvador, modifications (VIP) | FAS-250,252,253,254 | |
| MD Helicopters Hughes 500D/500E/530F[3] | United States | Utility/Assault/Armed Recon helicopter | MD 500 "E" | 8 | 500E 8: 3 MD 500E 2012 New and 5 1984 500E and 500D .
FAS 38,42,45,46,47,48,49,50. | ||
| Schweizer 300[3] | United States | Utility helicopter | 300C | 2 | FAS-150,151,152(OOS),153(OOS) | ||
| Bell 206LIII[3] | United States | Utility helicopter | 1 | Taken by the presidency of El Salvador | YS-1001N | ||
| Bell 407[3] | United States | Utility helicopter | 1 | Taken by the presidency of El Salvador | |||
| Cessna 210[3] | United States | Utility | 2 | YS-11N, YS-12N | |||
| Socata Rallye[3] | France |
utility | Rallye 235G | 6 | All out of service since 2011. | ||
| Cessna O-2 Skymaster[3] | United States | Liaison | O-2A O-2B |
8 1 |
|||
| Cessna A-37 Dragonfly[3] | United States | Attack | A-37B | 8 | FAS-421,424,425,427,428,431,432,433 |
References[]
- ↑ http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=47859&idArt=7871779
- ↑ Eastwood, 2007, p. 298
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 "MilAviaPress.com". http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/elsalvador/index.php.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Country-Data.com". Library of Congress. 1988. http://www.country-data.com/frd/cs/el_salvador/sv_appen.html.
- ↑ "World Air Forces 2013". Flightglobal Insight. 2013. http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/emptys/101015/world-air-forces-2013.pdf. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ↑ "Elsalvador.com". http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=6358&idArt=5391713.
- ↑ "aeroflight.co.uk". http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/americas/el_salvador/El_Salvador-af-EscCazaBomb.htm.
Bibliography[]
- Eastwood A.B. and Roach J.R., Piston Engined Airliner Production List, 2007, The Aviation Hobby Shop, ISBN : none.
- World Aircraft information files Brightstar publishing London File 342 sheet 2
External links[]
- http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/americas/el_salvador/El_Salvador-af-EscCazaBomb.htm
- http://www.armyrecognition.com/Amerique_du_nord/El_Salvadore/El-Salvadore_index_equipement.htm
- http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_158.shtml
- http://flotilla-aerea.com/
- http://www.fas.gob.sv/
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The original article can be found at Air Force of El Salvador and the edit history here.