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Air Force
Aircraft Fleet

Versión en castellano


Because of all the transformations that the Argentine Air Force has been through since its creation inside Army quarters in 1912, through institutional independence in 1945 and organizational consolidation during the 1968 ministers cabinet reform, it is sometimes hard to identify which aircraft types were or were not part of its fleet. In principle, we have left out of our listings all those models that, having been purchased by the Army, the Ministry of Aeronautics, the Secretary of Aeronautics or the Air Force itself, were actually operated by civil aviation organizations under their jurisdiction (such as the General Aviation, Habilitation and Development and Airworthiness directorates), were purchased to supply aircraft for civil aviation development plans or never wore military registrations. Our research includes all prototypes built by the Military Aircraft Factory and its heirs, even if they never reached the productive phase. Even though they never reached operational units, it is no question that they were test-flown by military operators inside said factory.

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IAI Dagger
(photo Carlos Ay)
Bell 212
(photo Carlos Aleman)
Embraer EMB-312A Tucano
(photo Luis Luque)
Boeing 707-300B
(photo Steve Brimley)
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Rockwell Sabre 75A
(Baires Aviation Photography)
North American F-86 Sabre
(photo Alexandre Gannier)
FMA IA-63 Pampa
(photo Rogier Westerhuis)
Aero Image
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
(photo Diego O. Rojo)
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Douglas C-54 Skymaster
(photo Jorge Mauro)
BAC Canberra B.62
(photo Mick West)
I.Ae.23 Pulqui
(photo Instituto Aerotécnico)
Lockheed 12B Electra Junior
(photo vía Jackson Flores, Jr.)

At risk of proposing an exaggerated simplification, our research indicates that the Argentine Air Force has acquired almost 2,500 aircraft of 174 different models. Dominating aircraft types include trainers (33% of all units, 21% of all models), fighters (16% and 23%, respectively), passenger transports (18% of all models) and attack bombers (11% of all models). Most of the units, in turn, come from four main suppliers: Argentina (31% of all units and 28% of all models), the United States (29% and 27%, respectively), the United Kingdom (19% and 9%, respectively) and France (9% and 16%, respectively). The remaining of the historical fleet is distributed between Italy and Germany (they held a great deal of influence during World War II), Brazil, The Netherlands, Canada and Israel (leading renovation processes which took place in the last quarter of the XX Century) and occasional representatives from non-typical suppliers such as Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia and Sweden.

The listing below shows the larger generic models (or "aircraft families") equipping the Argentine Air Force and its predecessors. For each one of them, we specify years depicting their introduction and strike dates ("Acquired" and "Struck" columns), the number of aircraft acquired ("Q" column), their primary usage ("Primary type" column) and their country of origin ("Origin" column). Relevant comments are provided in the "Remarks" column.


Model Acquired Struck Q Primary type Origin Remarks
Aero Boero 180 1972   3 Glider tow Argentina Type current.
Aerospatiale SA-315B Lama 1973   12 Rescue helicopter France Type current.
"Bols" hot air balloon 1912   1 Hot air ballon Argentina  
Airspeed AS.65 Consul 1946 1951 6 Transport UK  
Ansaldo A.1 Balilla 1919    2 Fighter Italy  
Ansaldo SVA-5 Primo 1920 1927 17 Fighter Italy  
Ansaldo SVA-10 1919 1927 3 Fighter Italy  
Avro 504 Gosport 1920 1938 66 Trainer UK  
Avro 626 Trainer 1932 1934 15 Trainer UK  
Avro 683 Lancaster 1947   15 Bomber UK  
Avro 691 Lancastrian 1948 1958 2 Transport UK  
Avro 694 Lincoln 1947 1967 30 Bomber UK  
Avro La Cierva C-30 1938   2 Autogiro UK  
BAC Canberra 1970 2000 12 Bomber UK A two-aircraft purchase was cancelled.
Beech AT-11 Kansan 1947 1963 30 Trainer USA  
Beech C-45 Expeditor 1945   4 Transport USA  
Beech Mentor B45 1958   92 Trainer USA Type current.
Bell 47 1967   5 Utility helicopter USA  
Bell 212 Twin Two Twelve 1978   11 Utility helicopter USA Type current.
Bell UH-1 Iroquois 1967   14 Utility helicopter USA Type current.
Blériot XI 1912 1919 5 Trainer France  
Boeing 707 1976   7 Transport, cargo USA Type current.
Boeing Stearman 75 1958 1958 3 Trainer USA  
Boeing Vertol Chinook 1980 2000 3 Cargo helicopter USA  
Bölkow Phoebus ¿?   1 Glider Germany Type current.
Bréguet 1913 1913 1915 1 Trainer France  
Bréguet XIX 1926 1935 39 Attack bomber France  
Bristol F-2B Fighter 1920 1933 28 Fighter UK  
Bristol 170 Freighter 1946 1967 15 Cargo UK  
Caproni Ca.33 1919   4 Bomber Italy  
Castaibert 912-IV 1913 1913 1 Trainer France  
Caudron G-3 1919 1923 6 Trainer France  
Centrair ASW 20FL ¿?   1 Glider France Type current.
Cessna 150 1973   1 Utility Argentina Type current.
Cessna 170 1969 1971 1 Utility USA  
Cessna 180 1967 1981 10 Utility USA  
Cessna 182 1966   40 Utility Argentina Type current.
Cessna 210 1974 1978 1 Utility USA  
Cessna 320 1968 1982 2 Utility USA  
Cessna 336 1974 1978 1 Utility USA  
Chincul AR-25-235 1984   2 Trainer Argentina Nicknamed "Pawnee Biplaza" ("Two-seat Pawnee"). Type current.
Curtiss 4 Jenny 1921 1925 5 Trainer USA Nicknamed "La Petisa" ("The short lady").
Curtiss 51 Fledgling 1930 1933 2 Trainer USA  
Curtiss 68 Hawk III 1936 1947 10 Fighter USA  
Curtiss 75 Hawk 1939 1960 50 Fighter USA  
Curtiss 79 Hawk IV 1936 1947 2 Fighter USA  
Curtiss C-46 Commando     2 Transport USA  
Dassault Mirage III 1973   43 Fighter France Type current.
Dassault Mirage 5 1982   10 Fighter France Type current.
de Havilland Dove 1947 1968 50 Transport UK  
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver 1961 1973 5 Transport Canada  
de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter 1961 1972 2 Transport Canada  
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 1968   12 Transport Canada Type current.
Dewoitine D-21 1927 1941 38 Fighter Argentina  
Dewoitine D-25 1927 1934 11 Fighter France  
Dewoitine D-333 1943 1947 2 Transport France  
Dewoitine D-338 1943 1947 2 Transport France  
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk 1966   111 Fighter USA Type current.
Douglas DC-3/C-47 1943 1990 50 Transport, cargo USA  
Douglas C-54 Skymaster 1946 1968 8 Transport, cargo USA  
Douglas DC-6 1966 1972 5 Transport USA  
Eiri Avion PIK 20 ¿?   1 Glider Germany Type current.
Embraer EMB-312 Tucano 1985   30 Trainer Brazil Type current.
Fairchild 82D 1935 1945 2 Recconnaisance USA  
Fiat G.46 1948 1961 48 Trainer Italy  
Fiat G.55 Centauro 1947 1959 45 Fighter Italy  
Fiat G.59 1949 1950 1 Fighter Italy  
FMA Ae.C.1 1931 1934 1 Utility Argentina  
FMA Ae.C.2 1932 1937 2 Utility Argentina  
FMA Ae.C.3 1934 1942 5 Utility Argentina  
FMA Ae.C.4 1936 1938 1 Utility Argentina  
FMA Ae.M.B.2 1936 1945 15 Bomber Argentina Includes Ae.M.B.1 prototype.
FMA Ae.M.E.1 1932 1945 7 Trainer Argentina  
FMA Ae.M.O.1 1934 1945 41 Spotting Argentina Nicknamed "Tronco" ("Wooden log").
FMA Ae.M.Oe.1 1936 1945 6 Spotting Argentina Nicknamed "Tronco" ("Wooden log").
FMA Ae.M.Oe.2 1937 1945 14 Spotting Argentina Nicknamed "Tronco" ("Wooden log").
FMA Ae.S.1 1935 1939 1 Transport Argentina  
FMA Ae.T.1 1934 1936 3 Transport Argentina  
FMA 20 El Boyero 1940 1956 5 Utility Argentina  
FMA 21 1943 1945 1 Trainer Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.22 DL 1944 1955 201 Trainer Argentina Nicknamed "Déle Déle" ("Go ahead, go ahead").
FMA I.Ae.23 1945   1 Trainer Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.24 Calquín 1945 1955 100 Attack bomber Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.25 Mañque 1945 1945 1 Glider Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.27 Pulqui I 1947 1957 1 Fighter Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.30 Ñamcú 1948 1949 3 Fighter Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.31 Colibrí 1947 1948 3 Trainer Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.32 Chingolo 1949 1949 1 Trainer Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.33 Pulqui II 1948 1960 7 Fighter Argentina  
FMA I.Ae.34 Clen Antú 1949   5 Glider Argentina  
FMA I.Ae. SG-38 "PE" 1948   1 Glider Argentina  
FMA IA-35 Huanquero 1953 1974 47 Various Argentina  
FMA IA-37 1954 1959 2 Fighter Argentina  
FMA IA-38 1960 1963 1 Transport Argentina Nicknamed "Naranjero" ("Orange carrier").
FMA IA-41 Urubú 1953   2 Glider Argentina  
FMA IA-45 Querandí 1957 1967 2 Utility Argentina  
FMA IA-46 Ranquel ¿?   4 Glider tow Argentina Type current.
FMA IA-50 G-II 1962 2007 29 Various Argentina Also known as "Guaraní" (a Northeastern Argentina indian tribe).
FMA IA-51 Tehuelche 1965 1981 1 Utility Argentina  
FMA IA-53 Mamboretá 1965 1976 3 Crop sprayer Argentina  
FMA IA-54 Carancho 1964 1965 1 Glider Argentina  
FMA IA-58 Pucará 1974   108 Attack bomber Argentina Type current.
FMA IA-63 Pampa 1984   24 Trainer Argentina Type current.
FMA IA-70 Paraná ca.1990 --- 0 Transport Argentina Argentine designation for CBA-123 Vector (project cancelled).
Focke-Wulf Fw-44 Stieglitz 1936     Trainer Germany  
Focke-Wulf Fw-58 Weihe 1936 1941 3 Recconnaisance Germany  
Fokker D-XI 1926 1927 1 Fighter Holanda  
Fokker F.27 Friendship/Troopship 1968   16 Transport Holanda Type current.
Fokker F.28 Fellowship 1975   7 Transport Holanda Type current.
Gloster Meteor 1946 1970 100 Fighter UK  
Grob G 102 Astir ¿?   3 Glider Germany Type current.
Grob G 103 Twin Astir ¿?   3 Glider Germany Type current.
Grumman SA-16 Albatross 1962 1979 3 Search and rescue USA  
Hawker-Siddeley 748 1968 --- 0 Transport UK An 8-aircraft oder was cancelled.
Henri Farman 50 hp 1912 1919 7 Trainer France  
Hiller UH-12 1967 1974 3 Utility helicopter USA  
Hughes 369/500 1968   32 Utility helicopter USA Type current.
IAI Dagger/Finger 1978   39 Fighter Israel Type current.
Junkers F.13 1927 1942 2 Transport Germany  
Junkers Ju-52 1938 1953 15 Transport Germany  
Junkers K-43/W-34 1933 1943 7 Transport Germany Nicknamed "Vaquita" ("Tiny cow").
Learjet 35A 1977   6 Various USA Type current.
Learjet 60 1999   1 Transport USA Type current.
LET L-13 Blanik ¿?   3 Glider Checoslovaquia Type current.
LET L-23 Super Blanik 2001   2 Glider Checoslovaquia Type current.
Levavasseur Antoinette VII 1912 1912 1 Utility  France  
Lockheed 10 Electra 1937 1951 1 Transport USA Nicknamed "Luqui Chico" (Spanish phonetics for "Tiny Lockheed").
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior 1937 1950 2 Transport USA Nicknamed "Luqui Grande" (Spanish phonetics for "Large Lockheed").
Lockheed 382 Hercules 1968   16 Cargo USA Type current.
Marichal Estudiantil 1913 1913 1 Trainer Argentina  
Marichal Tipo Farman 1912   1 Trainer Argentina  
Martin 139WAA 1937 1948 22 Bomber USA  
Max Holste MH-1521 Broussard 1967 1994 12 Utility France  
Mazzoleni "Quo Vadis" 1919 1937 1 Hot air ballon Argentina  
Morane Saulnier A1 1923 1925 1 Trainer  France  
Morane Saulnier AR35 1923 1925 1 Trainer France  
Morane Saulnier Parasol L 1915 1918 1 Trainer France  
Morane Saulnier G 1916 1919 1 Trainer France  
Morane-Saulnier MS-760 Paris 1959 2007 48 Trainer France  
Muniz M-9 1934 1945 2 Utility Brazil  
Nieuport 2-G 1912 1918 1 Trainer France Nicknamed "Pingüino" ("Penguin") o "Ñandú" (South American ostrich).
Nieuport M.IV 1912 1915 2 Trainer France  
Nieuport 28C-1 Bebé 1919 1922 2 Fighter France  
Nieuport 29C-1 Delage 1925 1927 5 Fighter France  
North American F-86F Sabre 1960 1986 30 Fighter USA  
North American NA-16P 1937 ¿? 31 Trainer USA  
North American T-28A Trojan 1960 1965 58 Trainer USA Nicknamed "Pepín Cascarón" ("Humpty Dumpty").
Northrop 8A-2 1937 1949 30 Attack bomber USA Nicknamed "Ochoa" (Spanish phonetics for "Eight-A").
Percival P.40 Prentice 1948 1962 100 Trainer UK  
Pezetel SZD-30 Pirat II ¿?   4 Glider Polonia Type current.
Piper PA-12 1968 1971 2 Utility USA  
Piper PA-18 Super Cub 1968 1971 7 Utility USA  
Piper PA-28 Dakota/Arrow 1980   13 Utility Argentina Type current.
Piper PA-31 Navajo c.1973   4 Transport Argentina Type current.
Piper PA-32 Seneca 1980   3 Utility Argentina Type current.
Rockwell Aerocommander 1968   16 Transport USA Type current.
Rockwell Sabre 75A 1975   1 Transport USA Type current.
Rumpler Taube 1913 1917 1 Trainer Germany Nicknamed "La Paloma" ("The Dove").
Saab 340B 2008   4 Transport Suecia Aircraft in delivery process.
SAML Aviatik 1919   2 Reconnaissance Italy  
Santos Dumont 20 Demoiselle 1912 ¿? 1 Trainer Brazil  
Schempp-Hirth Janus 1980   1 Glider Germany Type current.
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 1980   1 Glider Germany Type current.
Schleicher Ka-7 Rhönadler ¿?   1 Glider Germany Type current.
Sikorsky S-55 1960 ¿? 12 Transport helicopter USA  
Sikorsky S-58 1974 1980 2 Transport helicopter USA Nicknamed "Trompada" ("Uppercut").
Sikorsky S-61 1974 1993 2 Transport helicopter USA  
SPAD 1913 Monocoque 1917 1919 1 Fighter France  
SPAD S-VII 1919 1921 1 Fighter France  
SPAD S-XIII 1919 ¿? 2 Fighter France  
Sud Est 210 Caravelle 1973 1975 3 Transport France  
Sukhoi Su-29EB 1997   8 Aerobatic Rusia Type current.
Swearingen Merlin 1978 1991 2 Transport USA  
Vickers Viking 1948 1960 30 Transport UK  
Voisin 5 LA 1917 1920 1 Trainer France  

Updated by Carlos Ay on 21 April 2009. Martín "Kupat" Kubo cooperated.


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