Uruguayan Air Force
| Uruguayan Air Force Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1935 - |
| Country |  Uruguay |
| Role | Defence |
| Size | 3,000 personnel |
| Motto(s) | "La aviación vanguardia de la Patria" Aviation vanguard of the homeland |
| Anniversaries | 17th March Air force Day, 10th August Day of the Martyrs of the Military aviation |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Tte Gral (Av) Enrique Atilio Bonelli Baccino |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | IA-58 Pucará |
| Fighter | A-37B Dragonfly |
| Patrol | EMB 110 Bandeirante |
| Trainer | T-41D Mescalero, Aermacchi SF-260, Pilatus PC-7 |
| Transport | C-130 Hercules, C.212 Aviocar, 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 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 a 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 martyr of the FAU dying in a plane crash 10 August 1918) and Alférez Cesáreo L. Berisso (the future commander of the aviation school).
Along with two other young officers, Adhemar Saenz Lacueva and Esteban Cristi, they gained their military aviator status in Argentina and Chile and formed the Escuela Militar de Aeronáutica (EMA) on 20 November 1916. This school was the only military aviation organisation in Uruguay until 1935. Several European aircraft types were used in fairly large numbers during the twenties, among which were about sixteen Avro 504K, up to thirteenBreguet 14, at least five Castaibert 913-IV, about 28 Nieuport 27, and various other aircraft in smaller quantities. These pioneering years saw many air routes opened and an overall increase in interest in flight and its military potential.
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 S.XIII, DH82A and IMAM Ro.37 but this era saw the transition to aircraft of American pedigree. Beech AT-11 and Douglas C-47 transports, WACO JHD, AT-6D trainers, and B-25J medium bombers were used in this period. The next decade started with the delivery of the 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 meant 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 FAU grew on this foundation. Later, some new units were created like 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-33s arriving in 1956 and Lockheed F-80s 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 Hiller H-23F followed by the venerable 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 on the entry year). Candidates must also make a fidelity oath to the Uruguayan Flag, present a health card from the Health Ministry and have successfully completed their second year of a baccalaureate degree.
Students of the Academy receive primary flight instruction on the Aermacchi SF.260 and Beechcraft Baron.
Aircraft Inventory
Template:Standard table
! 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[1]
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules
| 
United States
| utility transport
| C-130B
| 2
|
|-----
| CASA C-212 Aviocar
| 
Spain
| transport
| C-212-200
| 3
|
|-----
| Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
| 
Brazil
| transport/Utility
| C-95
| 3
|
|-----
| Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
| Brazil
| transport
| EMB-120
| 1
|
|-----
| Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
| United States
| attack/fighter
| A-37B
| 12
|
|-----
| Beechcraft Twin Bonanza
| United States
| utility transport
| D50
| 1
|
|-----
| FMA IA 58 Pucará
| 
Argentina
| attack
| A-58
| 5
|
|-----
| Beechcraft B58 Baron
| United States
| trainer/liaison
| B-58
| 2
|
|-----
| Cessna 206 Stationair
| United States
| utility
liaison
| U206H
| 10
|
|-----
| Aermacchi SF.260
| 
Italy
| trainer
| T-260 EU
| 12
|
|-----
| Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer
| 
Switzerland
| trainer
| AT-92
| 6
|
|-----
| Cessna T-41 Mescalero
| United States
| trainer
| T-41D
| 7
|
|-----
| Bell 212 Twin Huey
| United States
| transport
utility
| Bell 212
| 4
|
|-----
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois
| United States
| transport
utility
| UH-1H
| 6
|
|-----
| Aerospatiale AS 365 Dauphin
| 
France
| VIP Transport
| AS 365
| 1
|
|-----
|
|}
See also
External links
- Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya - Official website (in Spanish)
- Memorias del Tiempo de Vuelo
- www.xairforces.com (in English)
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15 2007.