| Armada de Mexico - Fuerza Aeronaval |
By Santiago Flores
The history of Mexican naval aviation goes back to 1918, when a Mexican built float biplane TNCA Serie A was successfully tested at the port of
Veracruz, being flown by Mexican Air Service pilot Tte. P.A. Carlos Santa Ana. In 1926 a unit of float planes was created for the Mexican Navy, but without aircraft or personnel. Comodore P.A. Carlos Castillo Breton,
became the first Mexican naval pilot in 1927 after receiving his training in Mexico and the USA.
Between 1927 to 1943, a few aircraft were acquired, an Mexican built
Azcarate E trainer float plane, a Fairchild KR-34 float plane and
possibly (not confirmed) two Waco aircraft, a Model UIC and a Model
PBF, with a total of seven naval officers gaining their wings, although
some of these joined the FAM. WW II saw the creation of the Naval
Aviation school in 1943 at Las Bajadas, Veracruz, with three Consolidated
Model 21-M (ex-FAM), three Fairchild PT-19's (ex-FAM) and two Fleet
Model 11-32's (ex-FAM). The first Naval Aviation unit was also created in 1943: the 1er. Escuadron
Aeronaval was equipped with six Vought Kingfishers OS2U-3s, some of which were later used as float planes.
These were also ex-FAM aircraft, used to patrol the Gulf of Mexico for
submarines and were later used for training at the Naval Aviation
School.
In the post war years, the role of Mexican Naval Aviation was defined as
supporting the ground and sea naval units in Search & Rescue, coastal
patrol and assistance to the general population in case of emergencies or
disasters. For the last reason, aircraft like the Consolidated PBY Catalina, Beech C-45,
Bell 47, and Grumman J2F-6 Ducks were among the various types of aircraft that were acquired, also including Boeing Kaydets and Beech T-34s for training.
In the nineties, the Mexican navy started to acquire Russian built aircraft
and helicopters like the Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8 and Antonov An-32B, supplemented by French, American and German made helicopters and even Finnish built L-90 Redigos.
In 1999, the Mexican navy started a programme to homebuild kit planes and light helicopters at Las Bajadas, Veracruz. Two types of aircraft, the Lancair IVP and
Super ES, have been built and one helicopter type, the Rotor Way Exec 162F helicopter (one of which was lost in December 2000).
As of 2001, Mexican naval aviation reported to have 118 aircraft, of which 68 are fixed wing in 9 squadrons and 50 helicopters in 9 squadrons,
either in land bases or assigned on board of ocean patrol boats and frigates.
Additions around the turn of the century include six MD-902 Explorers for shipborne duties, the ten Zlin 242Ls for basic pilot training, one Bombardier DHC-8-Q200 as a transport aircraft for the naval command, two Robinson R-22 and one R-44 light training helicopters and some more Mi-8MTV-1s.
More recent additions to the air fleet are three ex-IDF/AF E-2C Hawkeyes, the first arriving in early July 2004. At the end of the same month, the first two EADS upgraded C212-200 Aviocars flew back to Mexico, with the remainder six being upgraded at BAN Las Badajas. Also the upgrade program of eleven Bo105CBS-2 and CBS-4 to Bo105 Super 5 saw it's first deliveries in the spring of 2004. The most recent acquistion are two AS565 Panthers, with an option on a further six, for handover in 2005. These helicopters also will perform shipborne duties. At the end of 2003 a new serial system was adopted by the navy, seeing the reserialling of most of it's aircraft during 2004.
|
|
|
Photo: Ivan Peña Nesbit, Mexico Air Spotters
Photo: André Du Pont, Mexico Air Spotters
|
Fuerza Aérea Mexicana
FAM Order of Battle