Colombian Aerospace Force

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Colombian Air Force
)
Colombian Aerospace Force
Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana
Sic Itur ad Astra
  • "Such is the pathway to the stars"
  • Spanish
    • : Somos la Fuerza
  • "We are the Force"
    • MarchColombian Aerospace Force Hymn
    Mascot(s)Capitan Paz
    Anniversaries8 November
    Engagements
    Websitewww.fac.mil.co
    C-295, C-212

    The Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC,

    Republic of Colombia. The Colombian Aerospace Force is one of the three institutions of the Military Forces of Colombia charged, according to the 1991 Constitution, working to exercise and maintain control of Colombia's airspace and to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order. It is one of the largest air forces in the Americas
    (after the United States and Brazil) and has increased its activity due to important roles in the fight against narco-terrorism. Its main force includes 21 IAI Kfirs as defense fighters and 12 Cessna A-37 Dragonfly plus 24 Embraer 314 Super Tucano for counterinsurgency.

    The FAC has been used in observation and aerial combat missions since the Colombian-Peruvian war of 1932 and also operated during the

    Second World War in the islands of San Andrés
    .

    The service's name was changed from the Colombian Air Force to the Colombian Aerospace Force in 2023.[citation needed]

    History

    Creation

    Military aviation began in Colombia in 1919 with the creation of a military aviation school for the

    Colombian Army. Previously by Law 15 of 1916 of September 7 two commissions were sent overseas to study new technological advancements in aviation, infantry, cavalry, engineering and trains. Officers pertaining to the Colombian Army were also sent to take a course on flight training on techniques and tactics. The school was then created in Colombia along with the Colombian National Army Aviation as a fifth regiment by Law 126 of 1919 of December 31 authorized by President of Colombia, Marco Fidel Suárez. The unit was officially activated on February 15, 1921 in Flandes, Department of Tolima with the support of a French mission led by Lieutenant Colonel Rene Guichard. The Aviation School initially had 3 Caudron G.3 E-2, 3 Caudron G.4 A-2 and four Nieuport Delage 11 C-1
    . The school was closed due to financial hardships in 1922.

    The School of Military Aviation was reopened on November 8, 1924 in

    Madrid, Department of Cundinamarca with the support of a Swiss mission headed by Captain Henry Pillichody. The aircraft used for training were 4 Wild WT and 8 Wild X performing the first air review on August 7, 1927. Then on December 28, 1928 the first combat aircraft was shown in Colombia, the Curtiss Falcon O-1
    .

    War with Peru

    See also:
    Colombia-Peru War
    The Hawk II F11C-origin, helped in fighting Guepí in Peruvian garrison, which lasted eight hours

    On September 1, 1932,

    Dornier Wal, 20 Curtiss Falcon F-8F and 30 Curtiss Hawk II F-11C
    .

    The contingent was then sent to southern Colombia to fight Peruvian forces with the main mission of delivering supplies to the front lines, aerial reconnaissance and air to land attacks. The fleet was divided into three squadrons with

    Caucaya airstrip (Puerto Leguízamo), El Encanto, Puerto Arica, La Pedrera and Tarapacá. The main combat operations started on February 14, 1933 in Tarapacá where the Peruvian garrison was bombed by seven Colombian aircraft and later assaulted by land forces. Later, on March 26, in the village of Guepi
    eleven Colombian planes and two cannon boats (MC Cartagena y MC Santa Marta) bombarded Peruvian positions and took over the town.

    The last military actions of the conflict with Peru were on May 8, 1933 and in which there was an aerial engagement between the two forces. Peruvian planes were attacking the fluvial fleet of Colombia over the Algodón River and were surprised by the Colombian squadron. One of the Peruvian aircraft, a Douglas O-38P was gunned down and taken to Colombian territory. On May 24, 1933 a cease fire was declared after an agreement was reached with the intervention of the League of Nations. The town of Leticia was returned to Colombia. The captured plane was then returned to Peru. As a result of the war, four pilots died in four accidents during non-combat related actions. Among these was one of the German pilots. Four planes were lost in these accidents a Falcon O-1, an Osprey C-14, a Junkers F-13 and a Curtiss F-11.

    World War II

    The AT-6 Texan served during World War II, defending the country's Caribbean coast

    The diplomatic breach between Colombia and the Axis countries (Germany, Italy and Japan) was declared on December 18, 1941, when President Eduardo Santos took the decision following the Japanese attack on military bases, naval and U.S. carriers at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Thereafter, the Colombian government introduced special measures to limit and counter the Axis military action in areas of national jurisdiction. On June 23, 1942 a German submarine attacked and sank the Colombian schooner Resolute, 50 miles northwest of the island of San Andrés. The same schooner had rescued some Marine officers and 23 British Royal Navy survivors of a capsized ship, 200 miles north of Cartagena just five days before.

    Following these events, the government decided to patrol and monitor the Pacific Coast and the Colombian Caribbean coast. The Palanquero Air Base commanders moved one fighter squadron and a Combat Reconnaissance Squadron, consisting of F-8 Falcon aircraft, to Barranquilla. In 1943, the Falcons were relieved of their mission and replaced by the AT-6 Texan. This squadron was active until 1945, when the AT-6 were transferred back to Palanquero Air Base.

    Early 1930s to present

    Organization

    Combat Air Commands (Comando Aéreo de Combate or CACOM):

    Transportation and Maintenance:

    Air Groups:

    Training:

    Airline:

    Personnel

    As of 2010,[1] the Aerospace Force fields approximately 13,500 personnel, including 2,171 officers, 3,304 Non-commissioned officers, 903 student officers, 4,673 soldiers, these usually allocated to base security, Military Police etc., and 2,382 civilians, the latter usually dedicated to specialized technical or professional activities, e.g. medical, communications, etc.

    Ranks & Insignias

    Further information: Military ranks of the Colombian Armed Forces

    The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Aerospace Force personnel.[30][n 1]

    Officers

    Rank group General/Flag/Air officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
     Colombian Aerospace Force[31]
    General del aire Mayor general del aire Brigadier general del aire Coronel Teniente coronel Mayor Capitán Teniente Subteniente
    Abbr. - GR - MG BG CR TC MY CT TE ST
    English -
    General of the Air
    		 -
    Major General of the Air
    Brigadier General of the Air
    		 Colonel
    Lieutenant Colonel
    		 Major
    Captain
    		 Lieutenant
    Second Lieutenant

    Non-Commissioned Officers and Airmen

    Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
     Colombian Aerospace Force[31]
    Técnico jefe de comando conjunto Técnico jefe de comando Técnico jefe Técnico subjefe Técnico primero Técnico segundo Técnico tercero Técnico cuarto Aerotécnico
    Abbr. TJCC TJC TJ TS TP T2 T3 T4 AT -
    English
    Joint Command Chief Technician
    Command Chief Technician
    Senior Chief Technician
    Chief Technician
    Technician First Class
    Technician 2nd Class
    Technician 3rd Class
    Junior Technician
    		 Airman

    Aircraft

    Current inventory

    An IAI Kfir on take off
    Davis–Monthan AFB
    Zürich Airport
    A Bell 206 fly over during the Colombian Bicentennial
    A CASA CN-235 in Flight
    Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
    Combat Aircraft
    IAI Kfir Israel multirole 19 2 aircraft provide training[32]
    Basler BT-67 United States attack / CAS AC-47T 6[32] modified DC-3 with turboprop engines, and mounted guns
    A-37 Dragonfly United States light attack / COIN 12[33]
    EMB 314 Super Tucano Brazil light attack / COIN 23[32]
    Reconnaissance Aircraft
    Cessna 208 United States reconnaissance 6[32]
    Cessna Citation V United States surveillance Ultra 5[32]
    CASA CN-235 Spain reconnaissance 1[32]
    Tanker
    Boeing KC-767 United States aerial refueling / transport MMTT 1[32] tanker transport conversion by
    Israeli Aerospace Industries
    Transport
    Boeing 727 United States VIP transport 1[32]
    Boeing 737 United States VIP transport 4[32]
    C-130 Hercules United States transport C-130B/H 8[32]
    CASA C-212 Spain transport 4[32]
    CASA C-295 Spain utility transport 7[32]
    Cessna 208 United States utility transport 10[32]
    Embraer EMB 110 Brazil utility / transport 2[32]
    Turbo Commander United States transport 2[32] one provides maritime patrol
    Super King Air United States transport 90/350 11[32] 3 provide electronic warfare
    Piper PA-34 United States light transport 1[32]
    Piper PA-31T United States light transport 1[32]
    Helicopters
    Bell 212 United States utility 11[32]
    Bell UH-1 United States utility 49[32] 2 are
    Bell 205s
    Sikorsky UH-60 United States SAR / COIN U/M/AH-60L 24[32]
    MD 500 Defender United States light utility 530 4[32]
    Trainer Aircraft
    Bell 206 United States rotor-craft trainer 47[32]
    Cessna T-37 United States jet trainer 17[32]
    EMB 312 Tucano Brazil advanced trainer 14[32]
    Beechcraft T-6 Texan II United States advanced trainer T-6C 5 3 on order[32]
    UAV
    Boeing Insitu ScanEagle United States surveillance 6[34][35]
    Elbit Hermes 450 Israel surveillance 6[36]
    Elbit Hermes 900 Israel surveillance 2[36]

    Former aircraft

    Previous aircraft operated were the Gavilán G358, OV-10A Bronco, IAI Arava.[37][38]

    Aircraft identification

    Super Tucano of the Colombian Aerospace Force. These aircraft were acquired in 2006

    The aircraft used by the Colombian Aerospace Force are identified with the letters "FAC" followed by three or four numbers that are painted on the tail, nose and nose landing gear doors. The serial numbers are assigned according to the aircraft's primary role as follows:

    • 001
      Avión Presidencial
    • 002 to 100 trainer
    • 101 to 200 liaison
    • 201 to 300 helicopter
    • 301 to 500 miscellaneous
    • 501 to 600 light transport
    • 601 to 700 transport
    • 701 to 800 advanced trainer
    • 801 to 900 fighter-bomber
    • 901 to 1000 crew-trainer
    • 1001 to 1300 transport
    • 2001 to 2300 Close support
    • 2501 to 2600 bomber
    • 3001 to 3100 Fighter
    • 3101 to 3200 COIN
    • 4001 to 4600 helicopter
    • 5001 to 5600 liaison
    • 5701 to 5800 recon/ELINT

    See also

    Notes

    1. ^ Colombia is not a member of NATO, so there is not an official equivalence between the Colombian military ranks and those defined by NATO. The displayed parallel is approximate and for illustration purposes only.

    References

    1. ^ a b Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Colombia (November 2010). "Logros de la Política de Consolidación de la Seguridad Democrática, 2010" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
    2. ^ (in Spanish)[1]
    3. ^ "Video Shows Shootdown of Hawker 800".
    4. ^ (in Spanish) CACOM 1 – Puerto Salgar (Cundinamarca) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.1 Archived 2012-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
    5. ^ (in Spanish) Capitán Germán Olano Moreno
    6. ^ (in Spanish) CACOM 2 – Apiay (Meta) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.2 Archived 2013-05-02 at the Wayback Machine
    7. ^ (in Spanish) Capitán Luis F. Gómez Niño
    8. ^ (in Spanish) CACOM 3 – Malambo (Atlántico) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.3
    9. ^ (in Spanish) Mayor General Alberto Pauwels Rodríguez
    10. ^ (in Spanish) CACOM 4 – Melgar (Tolima) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.4
    11. ^ (in Spanish) Teniente Coronel Luis Francisco Pinto Parra
    12. ^ (in Spanish) CACOM 5 – Rionegro (Antioquia) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.5 Archived 2007-06-11 at the Wayback Machine
    13. ^ (in Spanish) Coronel Fernando Arturo Lema Posada
    14. ^ (in Spanish) CACOM 6 – Tres Esquinas (Caquetá) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.6 Archived 2012-02-29 at the Wayback Machine
    15. ^ (in Spanish) Capitán Ernesto Esguerra Cubides Archived 2012-07-07 at archive.today
    16. ^ (in Spanish) CATAM – Aeropuerto El Dorado (Bogotá D.C) – Comando Aéreo de Transporte Militar Archived 2017-10-03 at the Wayback Machine
    17. ^ (in Spanish) Brigadier General (H) Camilo Daza Álvarez
    18. ^ (in Spanish) CAMAN – Madrid (Cundinamarca) – Comando Aéreo de Mantenimiento Archived 2018-08-26 at the Wayback Machine
    19. ^ (in Spanish) Mayor (H) Justino Mariño Cuesta
    20. ^ (in Spanish) GACAR – San Andrés Isla (San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina) – Grupo Aéreo del Caribe
    21. ^ (in Spanish) Teniente Coronel Benjamín Méndez Rey
    22. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd
      . January 2017. p. 21.
    23. ^ (in Spanish) GAORI – Marandúa (Vichada) – Grupo Aéreo del Oriente Archived 2018-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
    24. ^ (in Spanish) Coronel Luis Arturo Rodríguez Meneses
    25. ^ (in Spanish) EMAVI – Santiago de Cali (Valle) – Escuela Militar de Aviación
    26. ^ (in Spanish) Marco Fidel Suárez
    27. ^ (in Spanish) ESUFA – Madrid (Cundinamarca) – Escuela de Suboficiales FAC
    28. ^ (in Spanish) Captain Andres Maria Diaz Diaz
    29. ^ (in Spanish) IMA – Instituto Militar Aeronáutico Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
    30. ^ Congreso de la República de Colombia (28 July 2010). "Ley 1405 de 2010 Nuevos Grados Militares" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
    31. ^ a b "Grados Militares Fuerza Aérea Colombiana". fac.mil.co (in Spanish). Colombian Air Force. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
    32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
    33. ^ "Two Colombian airplanes burst into flames after colliding midair, both pilots killed". TimesNow. 2023-07-02.
    34. ^ "Fuerza Aérea Colombiana activa escuadrón de aeronaves remotamente tripuladas en el Departamento de Nariño". www.fac.mil.co (in Spanish). Colombian Air Force. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
    35. ^ "Colombian Air Force activates drone squadron". www.forecastinternational.com. Forecast International. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
    36. ^ a b Saumeth, Erich (12 February 2018). "Colombia y sus Elbit Hermes 900". www.infodefensa.com (in Spanish). IDS, S.L. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
    37. ^ Sands, Glenn. "Colombian Air Force retires OV-10A Broncos". Air Forces Monthly (#325): 19.
    38. ^ Herk, Hans van. "Colombia Air Force retirements". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 2023-01-12.

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Colombia.
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colombian_Aerospace_Force&oldid=1217901512"