Mexican Air Force
Encyclopedia : M : ME : MEX : Mexican Air Force
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The Mexican Air Force (in Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Mexicana) is the aviation branch of the Mexican defense forces and depends on the National Defense Secretariat. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, it has 11,770 men, 107 combat aircraft and 71 armed helicopters.[link] As of 2005, its national commander is Gen. Manuel Víctor Estrada Ricardez.
The Air Force was created on February 5 1915 by the leader of the Mexican Constitutionalist Army, Venustiano Carranza, as Arma de Aviación Militar (in English: Military Air Weapon). Its first commander was Lt. Alberto Salinas Carranza.
The Escuadrón 201, a P-47 fighter squadron of the FAM, served in the Pacific against Japan during World War II.
Structure
A national commander under the orders of the Secretary of National Defense is in charge of the Mexican Air Force. The second in command is the Air Force Chief of Staff, who supervise a Deputy Chief of Operations and a Deputy Chief of Management. The Air Force divides the Mexican territory in four regions: Northwestern, Northeastern, Central and Southeastern. Each region is commanded by a general and the regional headquarters are located in Hermosillo, Sonora, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico City, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, respectively. The regional headquarters are in charge of 18 air bases across the country:
| 1 | Santa Lucía, México | 10 | Culiacán, Sinaloa |
| 2 | Ixtepec, Oaxaca | 11 | Santa Gertrudis, Chihuahua |
| 3 | Ciprés, Baja California | 12 | Tijuana, Baja California |
| 4 | Cozumel, Quintana Roo | 13 | Chihuahua, Chihuahua |
| 5 | Zapopan, Jalisco | 14 | Escobedo, Nuevo León |
| 6 | Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas | 15 | San Juan Bautista de la Raya, Oaxaca |
| 7 | Pie de la Cuesta, Guerrero | 16 | Ciudad Pemex, Tabasco |
| 8 | Mérida, Yucatán | 17 | Copalar, Chiapas |
| 9 | La Paz, Baja California Sur | 18 | Hermosillo, Sonora |
Fleet
- Tactical fighters: Northrop F-5E and F-5F-Tiger.
- Transportation: Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Antonov An-32 and Boeing 727, IAI Arava, Cessna 500 Citation, Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter, Gulfstream III.
- Reconnaissance: Shrike Commander, Beechcraft King Air and Cessna 182S, Fairchild C-26B Metroliner, Maule MXT-7-235 Super Rockets
- Surveillance: Embraer EMB-145AEW&C, Embraer EMB-145MP, Schweizer SA2-37A.
- Helicopters: Sikorsky CH-53 Yas'ur 2000, Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, MD-500/530, Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8/17 Hip, Mil Mi-26 Halo, Bell 206B/L-13, Bell 212, Bell 214, Eurocoptor (Aerospatiale) SA-330 Puma, Eurocoptor SA-332L-1 Super Puma.
- Trainers: Lockheed T-33, Pilatus PC-7 and Aermacchi F-260 (SIAI Marchetti), Maule MXT-7-180, Boeing-Stearman PT-13/PT-17 Kaydet, Beech F33C Bonanza.
External links
- [History of the Mexican Air Force] (in Spanish).
- [Planes and helicopters of the Mexican Air Force] (in Spanish).
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