Colombian National Army Aviation

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The Colombian National Army Aviation is an aviation combat arms unit in the Colombian National Army. Its history dates back to December 31, 1919, but was not fully developed until August 25, 1995 when this unit is officially activated under the name "Aviación Ejército" (Army Aviation) The Army Aviation was created to support ground operations from the air.

Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft inventory 3 See also 4 References

[edit] History

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 to 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 is 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 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 on 1922.

[edit] Aircraft inventory

While reliant on the Colombian Air Force for heavier air support, the Army maintains a fleet of 114 aircraft, including 99 helicopters.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[1]	Notes
Gulfstream Turbo Commander	United States	utility transport	Commander 1000	1
Beechcraft King Air	United States	utility transport	Model 90	1
Bell UH-1 Iroquois	United States	utility helicopter	UH-1H	31
Bell UH-1N Twin Huey	United States	transport helicopter	UH-1N	27
Convair 580	United States	airliner		1
Kaman K-MAX	United States	transport helicopter		5
Mil Mi-17 Hip-H	Russia	transport helicopter		11
Piper PA-31 Navajo	United States	utility		2
Piper PA-34 Seneca	United States	utility		5
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk	United States	transport helicopter	UH-60L	25

[edit] See also

• Army aviation

[edit] References