Uruguayan Air Force 1015521 223596330 2008-07-04T20:18:08Z Sardanaphalus 427947 updating link using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{Infobox Military Unit |unit_name= Uruguayan Air Force<br>''Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya'' |image= |caption= |country= {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Uruguay]] |dates= [[1935 in aviation|1935]] - |allegiance= |branch= |type= |role= Defence |size= 3,000 personnel |command_structure= |garrison= |garrison_label= |equipment= |equipment_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto= "La aviación vanguardia de la Patria" Aviation vanguard of the homeland |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |battles= |anniversaries= 17th March Air force Day, 10th August Day of the Martyrs of the Military aviation |decorations= |battle_honours= <!-- Commanders --> |current_commander= [[Tte Gral (Av) Enrique Atilio Bonelli Baccino]] |current_commander_label= |ceremonial_chief= |ceremonial_chief_label= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |colonel_of_the_regiment_label= |notable_commanders= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= Roundel |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= <!-- Aircraft --> |aircraft_attack= [[FMA IA 58 Pucará|IA-58 Pucará]] |aircraft_bomber= |aircraft_electronic= |aircraft_fighter= [[A-37 Dragonfly|A-37B Dragonfly]] |aircraft_interceptor= |aircraft_recon= |aircraft_patrol= [[EMBRAER EMB 110 Bandeirante|EMB 110 Bandeirante]] |aircraft_trainer= [[T-41 Mescalero|T-41D Mescalero]], [[Aermacchi F-260|Aermacchi SF-260]], [[Pilatus PC-7]] |aircraft_transport= [[C-130 Hercules]], [[CASA C.212 Aviocar|C.212 Aviocar]], [[EMB 120 Brasilia| EMB-120 Brasilia]], [[UH-1 Iroquois]] }} == History == The birth date of military aviation in [[Uruguay]] is [[17 March]] [[1913]] when the '''Escuela de Aviación Militar''' was formed at a small airport 50 km from [[Montevideo]]. The first aircraft were a [[Farman MF.7|Farman Longhorn]] [[biplane]] and a [[Blériot XI]] [[monoplane]]. As with many other Latin American countries the first flight training was performed by a European, in this case French, instructor. Ten army officers formed the select group chosen to be the first Uruguayan military aviators. Among this first group were Juan Manuel Boiso Lanza (the first fatality of the FAU dying in a plane crash [[10 August]] [[1918]]) and Alférez Cesáreo L. Berisso (the future commander of the Air Force flight school). Along with two other young officers, Adhemar Saenz Lacueva and Esteban Cristi, they gained their military aviator rating in [[Argentina]] and [[Chile]] and formed the '''Escuela Militar de Aeronáutica''' (EMA) on [[20 November]] [[1916]]. This school was the only military aviation facility in Uruguay until 1935. Several European aircraft types were used in fairly large numbers during the twenties, among them were sixteen [[Avro 504]]K, thirteen[[Breguet 14]], at least five [[Castaibert aircraft|Castaibert 913-IV]], 28 [[Nieuport 27]], and various other aircraft in smaller quantities. These pioneering years saw many air routes opened and an overall increase in the awareness of the military potential of this nascent force. [[Image:Roundel of Uruguay.svg|right|thumb|125px|Air Force Roundel]] The EMA evolved into the air force as we now know it. In 1935 the school was transformed into the '''Aeronáutica Militar''' and five units were created as well as several airbases. Typical aircraft of the thirties and forties were European types like the [[Potez 25]], [[A.2 TOE]], [[SPAD S.VII]] and [[SPAD S.XIII|S.XIII]], [[de Havilland Tiger Moth|DH82A]] and [[IMAM Ro.37]] but this era also saw the transition to aircraft of American pedigree. [[Beechcraft Model 18|Beech AT-11]] and [[C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47]] transports, [[Weaver Aircraft Company of Ohio|WACO JHD]], [[T-6 Texan|AT-6D]] trainers, and [[B-25 Mitchell|B-25J]] medium bombers were used in this period. The next decade started with the delivery of the [[P-51 Mustang|F-51 Mustang]] notably enhancing the capabilities of the air force which now numbered nine Grupos de Aviación and was officially renamed from Aeronáutica Militar to '''Fuerza Aérea Militar''' on [[4 December]] [[1952]]. This was a memorable day because it signified independence from the army. The new force was reorganized into three commands (tactical command, training command and material command) and a brigade structure was implemented along with a fully staffed headquarters. The Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya (FAU) grew from this foundation. Later, some new units were created such as the Commandos Aéreos, but no radical changes were made. New aircraft did arrive of course. FAU entered the jet age with factory fresh [[Lockheed T-33]]s arriving in 1956 and [[P-80 Shooting Star|Lockheed F-80]]s in 1958. The Uruguayans were also one of the more exotic and lesser known [[de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk]] users receiving 10 examples from late 1954 onward. They were withdrawn in May 1962. The first helicopters used were the [[Bell 47]] and [[OH-23 Raven|Hiller H-23F]] followed by the venerable [[UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1B Huey]]. == Escuela Militar de Aeronáutica == The Air Force Academy (''Escuela Militar de Aeronáutica'') is located in Pando. To enter the academy, applicants must be unmarried naturalized Uruguayan citizens, aged 16 to 20 (as of 1 February of the entry year). Candidates must also swear an oath of loyalty to the Uruguayan Flag, present a health card from the Health Ministry and have successfully completed their second year of a bachelors degree. Students of the Academy receive primary flight instruction on the [[Aermacchi SF.260]] and [[Beechcraft Baron]]. == Order of Battle == {{Standard table|0}} ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service<ref name="awst_20070115">"World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]'', [[January 15]] [[2007]].</ref> ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] | {{USA}} | utility transport | C-130B | 2 | |----- | [[CASA C-212 Aviocar]] | {{ESP}} | transport | C-212-200 | 3 | |----- | [[Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante]] | {{BRA}} | transport/Utility | C-95 | 3 | |----- | [[Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia]] | {{BRA}} | transport | EMB-120 | 1 | |----- | [[Cessna A-37 Dragonfly]] | {{USA}} | attack/fighter | A-37B | 12 | |----- | [[Beechcraft Twin Bonanza]] | {{USA}} | utility transport | D50 | 1 | |----- | [[FMA IA 58 Pucará]] | {{ARG}} | attack | A-58 | 5 | |----- | [[Beechcraft Baron|Beechcraft B58 Baron]] | {{USA}} | trainer/liaison | B-58 | 2 | |----- | [[Cessna 206|Cessna 206 Stationair]] | {{USA}} | utility<BR>liaison | U206H | 10 | |----- | [[Aermacchi SF.260]] | {{ITA}} | trainer | T-260 EU | 12 | |----- | [[Pilatus PC-7|Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer]] | {{SUI}} | trainer | AT-92 | 6 | |----- | [[T-41 Mescalero|Cessna T-41 Mescalero]] | {{USA}} | trainer | T-41D | 7 | |----- | [[Bell 212|Bell 212 Twin Huey]] | {{USA}} | transport<BR>utility | Bell 212 | 4 | |----- | [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois]] | {{USA}} | transport<BR>utility | UH-1H | 6 | |----- | [[Eurocopter Dauphin|Aerospatiale AS 365 Dauphin]] | {{FRA}} | VIP Transport | AS 365 | 1 | |----- | |} ==See also== * [[Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571]] ==References== <references /> ==External links== * [http://fau.gub.uy Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya] - Official website (in Spanish) * [http://www.pilotoviejo.com ''Memorias del Tiempo de Vuelo''] * [http://www.xairforces.net/airforces.asp?id=45 ''www.xairforces.com (in English)''] {{Aviation lists}} [[Category:Military of Uruguay]] [[Category:Air forces by country|Uruguay]] [[Category:Aviation in Uruguay]] [[es:Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya]] [[pl:Urugwajskie Siły Powietrzne]]