FMA IA-58 Pucará
The FMA IA-58 Pucará is an Argentine military aircraft.[1] It is a twin-turboprops attack aircraft built in all-metal.
| FMA IA-58 Pucarà | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Two Pucarà in flight. | |
| Role | Attack aircraft |
| National origin | Argentina |
| Manufacturer | FMA |
| First flight | 1969 |
| Introduction | 1976 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary user | Argentina Air Force. |
| Number built | 160 |
Operational history
Falklands War
Argentina Air Force used the Pucarà for attacks against Port Stanley and the British Army and the Royal Navy. Several of them were shot down by Sea Harrier and British commandos.
Sri Lanka Civil War
Sri Lanka used the Pucarà against the Tamils Tigers.[2]
Users
Argentina, Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Uruguay used this aircraft. Some are enough actives in Argentina in 2013. United Kingdom used one aircraft for trials, it was captured by British commandos.
FMA IA-58 Pucará Media
FMA IA 58 Pucará armament, taken by Francisco Infante at the Fuerza Aerea Moron 08.
A captured Pucará on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
Helmet of pilot shot down by small arms fire from 2 PARA during the Falklands War
The SLAF Pucara (CA-605) on display at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum.
Uruguayan Air Force Pucarás
References
- ↑ "FMA IA-58 Pucara (Fortress) Counter-Insurgency Platform / Ground Attack Aircraft - Argentina". www.militaryfactory.com.
- ↑ (in Spanish)http://www.clubpucarero.com.ar/pucamundo.html Archived 2013-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
Bibliography
- Frawley, Gerard, The international directory of military aircraft 2002/2003 . London: Aerospace Publication, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
- Gaillard, Pierre, Avions et hélicoptères militaires d'aujourd'hui Paris, France : Larivière éditions, 1999. ISBN 2-907051-24-5.
- Taylor, John WR, Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London : Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2