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.
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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.
25th Army Aviation Brigade (Comando Operativo 25 de Aviacion)
Army Aviation Base Fuerte Tolemaida, "General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla"
Army Aviation Base Bogotà, El Dorado I.A.P.
Army Aviation Base Larandia
Army Aviation Base San José del Guaviare
Army Aviation Base Tumaco
Batallón de Movilidad y Maniobra No. 1 Forward Operating Base Buena Vista
Forward Operating Base Saravena
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 980 Commander 1000 |
4 | |
| Beechcraft King Air | United States | utility transport | Model 90 | 1 | |
| Beechcraft Super King Air | United States | Utility transport, ELINT | Model 200 Model 350 |
2 1 |
|
| Cessna 206 Stationair | United States | Utility transport | 3[2] | ||
| Cessna 208 Caravan | United States | Utility transport | 2[2] | ||
| Casa C212 | Spain | Utility transport, Medevac | C212-100 | 2 | |
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | United States | Utility helicopter | UH-1H | 30 | |
| Bell UH-1N Twin Huey | United States | Transport helicopter | UH-1N | 26 | |
| Convair 580 | United States | Airliner | 1 | ||
| Antonov An-32 | Russia | Transport aircraft | 2 | ||
| Mil Mi-17 Hip-H | Russia | Transport helicopter | Mi-17 1V Mi-17 V5 |
23 | |
| Piper PA-31 Navajo | United States | utility | 1 | ||
| Piper PA-34 Seneca | United States | utility | 4 | ||
| Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk | United States | Transport helicopter | UH-60L | 50 |
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