Chilean Air Force

Chilean Air Force
Coat of arms of the Chilean Air Force
Founded	March 21, 1930
Country	Chile
Part of	Chilean Armed Forces
Motto(s)	"Quam celerrime ad astra"
March	Alte Kameraden
Anniversaries	March 21 (Air Force Day)
Commanders
Current commander	General del Aire (Air General) Hugo Rodríguez González
Insignia
Roundel
Roundel 1918–1930
Aircraft flown
Attack	Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon
Electronic warfare	707 Cóndor AEW&C
Fighter	Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon, Northrop F-5E Tiger III
Trainer	T-35 Pillán, Super Tucano, T-36 Halcón
Transport	UH-1H Huey, Bell 412EP, UH-60 Black Hawk, C-130 Hercules

The Chilean Air Force (Spanish language: Fuerza Aérea de Chile, FACh ) is the air force of Chile, a branch of the Chilean military.

History

The first step towards the current FACh was taken by Teniente Coronel Pedro Pablo Dartnell, when he founded the Servicio de Aviación Militar de Chile (Military Aviation Service of Chile) on December 20, 1910, being trained as a pilot in France. Although a school was included, the first officers were sent to France for their training as well. One of them, Captain Manuel Ávalos Prado, took command over the Chilean military aviation school that was officially instated 11 February 1913, and remained in command until 1915. The Escuela de Aviación Militar (Military Aviation School) was named in honor of him in 1944, and still carries that name today.

In those early years many aviation milestones were achieved; conquering the height of the Andes was one of the main targets as well as long distance flights. Typical aircraft of that era were Avro 504, Bleriot XI, Bristol M.1C, DH.9, and SE5a. In the following decade, the (Airmail Line of Chile) Línea Aeropostal de Chile was created on 5 March 1929 as a branch of the military aviation. This postal airline later developed into the airline Línea Aérea Nacional (National Airline) that is still the leading airline in Chile today. Shortly afterwards, on 21 March 1930, the existing aviation elements of the army and navy were amalgamated into a dedicated department: the Subsecretaria de Aviación (Department of the Air Force) effectively creating the current independent Air Force. It was initially named Fuerza Aérea Nacional (National Air Force). The international airport of Chile carries the name of Lan's founding father and first commander of the air force, Air Commodore Arturo Merino Benítez. Its baptism of fire was in the 1931 sailors' rebellion in Coquimbo, where Air Force attack aircraft and bombers and 2 transport planes converted into bombers contributed to its failure.

The first outlines of the organization of the current air force were visible in 1945 with the inception of Grupo de Transporte No.1 (First Transport Group), later renumbered Grupo 10, with two C-45s and a single T-6 Texan at Los Cerrillos. Two years later the first Fuerza Aérea flight to Antarctica was performed. The fifties meant entry into the jet age for the FACh, and Grupo 7 was the first unit to receive them in 1954. Chile got its aircraft from both the United States and Europe. The American supply consisted of Lockheed F-80, Lockheed T-33, Beech T-34 Mentor, Cessna T-37, Cessna A-37 Dragonfly and Northrop F-5E/F for example, whereas the British supplied Hawker Hunters and the French delivered various helicopters and Dassault Mirage 50 aircraft.

The Chilean air force hosted the joint exercise Salitre with other friendly nations. It also participated in several United Nations peacekeeping missions overseas in 5 occasions.

Commanders-in-chief

Main article: List of commanders-in-chief of the Chilean Air Force

Order of Battle

Personnel = 10,600 (including 700 conscripts)

Combat Command of the Air Force

The Delphos building, designed by the Division of Infrastructure Logistics Command Air Force

.

First Air Brigade with headquarters in Los Cóndores Air Base (Base Aérea Los Cóndores) in Iquique

• 1st Aviation Group
• 2nd Aviation Group
• 3rd Aviation Group
• 24th Air Defense Group
• 34th Electronic Detection Group

Second Air Brigade with headquarters in Pudahuel Air Base (Base Aérea Pudahuel) in Santiago

• 9th Aviation Group
• 10th Aviation Group
• Air Defence Artillery and Special Forces Regiment (Regimiento de Artillería Antiaérea y FF.EE)
• Air Early Warning Squadron
• Halcones High Acrobatics Squad (Escuadrilla de Alta Acrobacia Halcones)
• 32nd Electronic Detection Group

Third Air Brigade with headquarters in El Tepual Air Base (Base Aérea El Tepual) in Puerto Montt

• 5th Aviation Group
• 25th Air Defense Group
• 35th Electronic Detection Group

Fourth Air Brigade with headquarters in Chabunco Air Base (Base Aérea Chabunco) in Punta Arenas

• 6th Aviation Group

F-16D Block 50M of Chilean Air Force

• 12th Aviation Group
• 23rd Air Defense Group
• 33rd Electronic Detection Group
• 19th Antarctic Exploration Group

Fifth Air Brigade with headquarters in Cerro Moreno Air Base (Base Aérea Cerro Moreno) in Antofagasta

• 7th Aviation Group
• 8th Aviation Group
• 21st Air Defense Group
• 31st Electronic Detection Group
• Aviation Infantry Group

Personnel Command

Education Division

• Aviation School "Captain Manuel Ávalos Prado"
• Air Specialties School "Flight Sergeant Adolfo Menadier Rojas"
• Sub-officers Perfection School
• Air War Academy
• Polytechnic Aeronautical Academy
• Air Photographic Surveying Service

Health Division
General Hospital of the Air Force
Air Force High Command Prefecture

Logistics Command

Maintenance Division
Administration Division
Infrastructure Division

Current inventory

Aircraft

Numbers shown below are derived from open sources, they should be regarded as estimates due to lack of confirmation from official sources.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Service versions	Total	Photos
Fighter Aircraft
General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States Netherlands	Multirole combat aircraft	28 F-16AM MLU 6 F-16BM MLU 6 F-16C Block 50M 4 F-16D Block 50M	50
Northrop F-5E/F Tiger III	United States	Interceptor aircraft	11 F-5E Tiger III 2 F-5F Tiger III	13
AEW&C
Boeing-IAI 707 Cóndor	United States Israel	Airborne early warning & control	EB-707 Cóndor	1
Transport and Aerial Refueling
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker	United States	Aerial refueling Strategic transport	KC-135E Stratotanker	3
Boeing 767	United States	Strategic transport	Boeing 767-300ER	1
Boeing 737	United States	Strategic transport	1 Boeing 737-500 1 Boeing 737-300	2
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	Tactical transport	2 C-130H Hercules 1 C-130B Hercules	3
CASA C-212 Aviocar	Spain	Tactical transport	2 C-212–200 Aviocar 1 C-212–300 Aviocar	3
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter	Canada	Tactical transport	4 DHC-6-100 Twin Otter 9 DHC-6-300 Twin Otter	13
Trainers
CASA/ENAER C-101CC Halcón	Spain Chile	Advanced jet trainer	A-36 Toqui	8
Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano	Brazil	Advanced trainer	A-29B Super Tucano	12
Cessna Citation 525	United States	Flight instruments trainer	CJ-1 Citation	4
ENAER T-35 Pillán	Chile	Basic trainer	18 T-35A1 Pillán 15 T-35B Pillán	33
Cirrus SR-22 T	United States	Basic trainer Liaison	SR-22 T	2
Military Helicopter
Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk	United States	Transport helicopter	S-70A Black Hawk	1
Bell 412	United States	Utility helicopter	5 Bell 412SP 12 Bell 412EP	17
Bell UH-1 Iroquois	United States	Utility helicopter	UH-1H Iroquois	15
Bell 206	United States	Utility helicopter	Bell 206B JetRanger III	5
Transport VIP/ Utility
Gulfstream IV	United States	VIP transport	G-IV Gulfstream	1
Learjet 35	United States	Reconnaissance aircraft	LR-35A Learjet	2
Piper PA-28 Cherokee	United States	Utility aircraft Liaison	PA-28-236 Dakota	7
Cessna O-2 Skymaster	United States	Aerial reconnaissance	O-2A Skymaster	2
Cessna O-1 Bird Dog	United States	Glider towing	O-1A Bird Dog	2
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Elbit Hermes 900	Israel	Unmanned aerial vehicle	Hermes 900	3
Aerobatics
Extra EA-300L	Germany	Aerobatics	EA-300L	4

Future Aircraft

A Chilean Boeing 707 with a Phalcon radar fitted to its nose and sides.

Elbit Hermes 900 UAV.

The first Chilean KC-135E at Santiago, in February 2010.

Hawks High Aerobatics Squad Halcones.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	Total	Photo
Embraer KC-390	Brazil	Military transport aircraft	KC-390	6

Anti-aircraft warfare

Name	Origin	Type	Photo
Surface-to-air missile
NASAMS	Norway	Medium range air defense system
Sistema Mygale	France	Short Range Anti-Aircraft System
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
M163 VADS	United States
Anti-aircraft warfare
Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon	Switzerland
M167 VADS	United States

Armament

Name	Origin	Type	Photo
Air-to-air missile
AIM-120 C5/C7 AMRAAM	United States	Beyond-visual-range missile
AIM-9 Sidewinder	United States
RAFAEL Derby	Israel	Beyond-visual-range missile
RAFAEL Python 4	Israel
Air-to-surface missile
AGM-65 Maverick	United States
Bomb
Mark 84	United States
Mark 82	United States
GBU-12 Paveway II	United States
GBU-24 Paveway III	United States
Anti-ship missile
AGM-84 Harpoon	United States

Industry

ENAER T-35 Pillán

Chile also maintains its own aviation industry, ENAER. The design of the T-35 Pillán trainer, based on the Piper PA-28 Dakota, is the best known example, seeing some export success as well. Furthermore, the assembly of the A-36/T-36 Halcón (CASA C-101) was achieved as well. Performing maintenance on most types in the current inventory, such as minor modifications on F-5E aircraft for example, the industry is of significant importance to the air force. ENAER is reported to be in talks with Embraer of Brazil to codesign the first indigenous South American military transport plane. Also, under the Pacer Amstel programme, with initial Dutch support, and later locally ENAER upgraded an F-16 combat jet, which for the Chilean Air Force is an advance for their maintenance of the F-16 fleet (becoming the 5th country to modify under authorization their jets).

Future Programmes

In July 2011, Elbit Systems reported the first export sale of its Hermes 900 UAV to the Chilean Air Force.

The Chilean Air Force seeks to acquire aircraft trainers to replace A-36 Halcón. Among the competitors highlights the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, BAE Hawk and Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master. The service hopes to select a trainer platform and to sign a contract for a batch of 12 to 16 aircraft by 2013.

By 2015, the Chilean Air Force must decommission the F-5 Tiger III, among the possible candidates to replace Tigers are the EF-2000, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Ranks of the Chilean Air Force

Ranks and insignia, similar to the Royal Air Force but adapted to suit the origins of the Chilean Air Force, are worn on shoulder collars and cuffs. General officers have the Condor eagle in their shoulder collars while officer cadets have a unique symbol, that of the Aviation School "Captain Manuel Ávalos Prado", on their shoulder collars. On the NCOs and enlistees, only Subofficer Majors and Subofficers wear both shoulder and cuff insignia, while Graduate Soldiers wear a double capital letter E (for the Air Force Specialties School "First Sergeant Adolfo Menandier Rojas") on their shoulder collars alongside their unique cuff marking.

Officer Ranks (SS.OO.)

The officer ranking system and insignia are similar to the RAF pattern of ranks, save for the General officer ranks, modified to suit the British style ranks, and the Colonel rank. Other ranks with foreign influences are that of Air Brigade General, a general officer rank in the French Air Force, and Air General, a general officer rank in the Spanish Air Force and the Bolivian and Colombian air forces.

Rank	General Officer			Superior Officer	Chief Officer		Junior Officer				Cadet Officer
Shoulder
Sleeve (service dress)
Sleeve (full dress)
–
Rank	General del Aire	General de Aviación	General de Brigada Aérea	Comodoro	Coronel de Aviación	Comandante de Grupo	Comandante de Escuadrilla	Capitán de Bandada	Teniente	Subteniente	Alférez	Cadete
Abbreviation	(C.J.)	(G.D.A.)	(G.B.A.)	(-)	(C.D.A.)	(C.D.G.)	(C.D.E.)	(C.D.B.)	(TTE.)	(STE.)	(ALF.)	-
Translation	Air General	General of Aviation	Air Brigade General	Commodore	Colonel of Aviation	Group Commander	Squadron Commander	Flight Captain	Lieutenant	Sub-lieutenant	Ensign	Cadet Officer
Equivalent	Air Chief Marshal	Air Marshal	Air Vice-Marshal	Air Commodore (optional rank for senior Group Captains)	Group Captain	Wing Commander	Squadron Leader	Flight Lieutenant	Flying Officer	Pilot Officer	Acting Pilot Officer	Officer Cadet

Noncommissioned and Enlisted Ranks

Rank	Subofficer Major	Subofficer		Class				Student	Conscripted Soldier
Shoulder				–	–	–	–		–
Sleeve									–
Rank	Suboficial Mayor	Suboficial	Sargento 1°	Sargento 2°	Cabo 1°	Cabo 2°	Cabo	Alumno	Soldado conscripto
Abbreviation	(SOM)	(SOF)	(SG1)	(SG2)	(CBO1)	(CBO2)	(CBO)	-	-
Translation	Sub-officer Major	Sub-officer	First Sergeant	Second Sergeant	First Corporal	Second Corporal	Corporal	Student	Conscripted Soldier
Equivalent	Warrant Officer Class I	Warrant Officer Class II	Flight Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Senior Aircraftman (Air Groups and Topography Service), Lance Corporal(Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, Personnel Command and Logistics)	Leading Aircraftman	Student NCO	Aircraftman

Badges of the Chilean Air Force

Officers

Officer	Line Corps
Badge
Arm of service	Aviation	Engineering	Air Defense	Telecommunications and Information Technology	Administration	Air Base
Abbreviation	(A)	(I)	(DA)	(TI)	(AD)	(BA)
Specialty	Aviators (Fighter, Helicopter) and Air transport officers	Aviation engineers	Air defense	Information and telecommunications engineers	Engineers assigned to administrative duties	Logistics

Officer	Services/Staff Corps
Badge
Arm of service	Justice	Medical Corps Dental Corps	Chaplainancy	Bands Service	General Services Corps
Abbreviation	(J)	(S) y (SD)	(SR)	(B)	(SG)
Specialty	Attorneys and Judges	Doctors, Nurses and Dentists of various specialties	Chaplains	Musicians	Professional workers and civilian employees

Non-commissioned officers and airmen

NCOs and airmen of the	Line Corps			Services Corps
Badge				-
Arm of service	Weapons	Technical support	Administration	Combat medicine and surgery
Specially	Air Defense Intelligence personnel Aircrews	Maintenance and armaments Communications, information technology and electronics Air Operations Support	Administrative staff	Combat medics and surgeons

Officers' cap badges

Chilean Air Force officers wear the following cap badges in their peaked caps.

Rank cap badge	Air Marshals and Air Commodores				Colonels and Group Commanders		Ensigns through Squadron Commanders
Full dress
Service dress
Grado	Air Chief Marshal	Air Marshal	Air Vice Marshal	Air Commodore	Group Captain	Wing Commander	Squadron Leader	Flight Lieutenant	Flying Officer	Pilot Officer	Acting Pilot Officer

References

Notes

External links

• Fuerza Aérea de Chile website (Spanish)
• Ranks of Fuerza Aérea de Chile website (Spanish)