The last years, the fleet of 50 A-4Ps and 25 A-4Cs was reduced to
10 airworthy aircraft in total. The last A-4Ps and Cs made the last flight
at December the 15th, 1998. This A-4C was photographed in August 1998 during
one of the last operational sorties.
Although the A-4P and C models were retired, the A-4 period didn't finish
for the Argentine Air Force. In total 36 "new" TA-4AR were ordered and
delivery started July 1998. These ex US planes were completely overhauled
and equipped with the latest avionics and weapons. They are all based at
Villa Reynolds, housing the 5th Brigada Aerea.
Shortly after the Falkland war, the Argentine Air Force received 10 Mirage
5PA from Peru. After delivery these planes received and update and since
then they are called Mirage 5 Mara. Most of their time these planes were
based at Rio Gallegos in the South of the country and very rarely seen.
Since 1996 they are based at Tandill close to the capital.
The
MS-760 Paris is already in service since 1954. Currently only a few are
flying but they have an important task in the fighter school. If the student
is destined to be a fighter pilot, then he joins the fighter school (Grupo
de Caza 4) at el Plumerillo, Mendoza. They start with flying the MS-760
Paris for the gunnery training. After this the student will fly the IA-63
Pampa.
Currently between 5 and 10 MS-760 are still in use. This is surprising
because the plan was to retire the MS-760 in 1998, and replace them by
the TA-4J. A contract for the delivery of 18 (ex AMARC) aircraft was almost
signed. Because of funding problems this project was cancelled, meaning
that the remaining MS-760s have to serve another few years.
All T-34s are assigned to the Academy based at Cordoba. The instructors
like the plane because of the perfect training capabilities. Recently 30
planes were overhauled and received new engines and avionics. Now they
are ready to serve at least 2 decades more.
Almost the complete helicopter fleet belongs to the 7 Brigada Aerea,
based at Mariano Moreno. Besides the H-500 in many versions, also the UH-1,
the B-212 and the CH-47 are based here. One of the main tasks of the H-500
is training of the new pilots. Another important function is fire fighting.
For this reason the H-500s are painted in high visability with some yellow
stripes.