Venezuelan Air Force (Spanish: Aviación Militar Nacional Bolivariana) is a professional armed body designed to defend Venezuela's sovereignty and airspace. It is a service component of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.
The organization is also known as the Bolivarian National Air Force of Venezuela. Its current official name has been in use since the end of 2008. It was previously called the Venezuelan Air Force (FAV; Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Venezolana).[1]
Historyedit
Most of the airbases in Venezuela were built in the 1960s as part of a massive expansion program. The main fighter types in those years were Venom, Vampire, and F-86. Bomber squadrons typically operated B-25 Mitchell aircraft. The 1970s and 1980s saw a considerable increase in capacity, mainly because the rising oil prices enabled the FAV to re-equip most of its units. The mixture of various aircraft types was maintained, and the Mirage IIIE and Mirage 5, VF-5A and D, T-2D, OV-10A and E, and T-27 were introduced. Venezuela was one of the first export customers for the F-16, which arrived in 1983 to equip the newly formed Grupo Aéreo de Caza 16 at El Libertador Airbase.[2][3]
In the 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempts, elements of the Venezuelan Air Force were key participants in the rebellion. FAV units at El Libertador Air Base under the command of Brigadier General Visconti seized control of the airbase and then launched an attack on the capital. OV-10s, T-27s, and Mirage III fighters under Visconti's command bombarded targets in the capital and loyalist air bases, destroying five CF-5 fighters on the ground. Two loyalist pilots escaped with F-16 fighters and shot down two OV-10s and a Tucano, claiming air superiority for the government. Two more rebel OV-10s were lost to ground fire. As the tables turned on the coup attempt, General Visconti and his allies fled in two C-130s, two Mirages, an OV-10, and several SA 330 helicopters.[4]
A C-130H Hercules on approachA Sukhoi SU-30 liftoff
The AMV purchased 24 Sukhoi Su-30 planes from Russia in July 2006, as a result of the United States embargo on spare parts for their F-16 force.[5] In 2008, Venezuela was reported for a potential acquisition of a number of Su-35 fighter aircraft and a second batch of aircraft 12–24 Sukhoi Su-30 from Russia.[6][7] It did not proceed further.[8]
In 2010, the Venezuelan Air Force retired their aging F-5 fleet, taking the Hongdu K-8W its place after being received earlier that year. [9][10]
In October 2015, Venezuela announced the plan to purchase of 12 more Su-30MK2 from Russia for $480 million.[11][unreliable source?][12]
^"Sukhoi Su-30 story in colours. Sukhoi Su-30 fighter worldwide camouflage and painting schemes". Mars.slipsk.pl. from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
^"F-16s for Venezuela". F-16.net. from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
^. Airtoaircombat.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
^Cooper, Tom. "Venezuelan Coup Attempt, 1992". ACIG.org. from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
^"Venezuela allocates $480m to buy Sukhoi aircraft from Russia". airforce-technology.com. November 2015. from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
^"Pese a la crisis económica, Venezuela compra doce cazas rusos". Clarín. 29 October 2015. from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqr"World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
^"La Fuerza Aérea Venezolana exhibe sus vehículos aéreos no tripulados ANT-1X". Infodefensa.com. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
^ ab"Manual de Uniformes de la Aviación Militar Bolivariana" (PDF). aviacion.mil.ve (in Spanish). Ministry of Defense (Venezuela). November 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
Bibliographyedit
Hagedorn, Dan. "Latin Mitchells: North American B-25s in South America, Part Three". Air Enthusiast No. 107, September/October 2003. pp. 36–41. ISSN 0143-5450
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Venezuela.
(in Spanish) Sitio oficial de la Aviación Militar de Venezuela
from the
April 10, 2024
venezuelan, force, spanish, aviación, militar, nacional, bolivariana, professional, armed, body, designed, defend, venezuela, sovereignty, airspace, service, component, national, bolivarian, armed, forces, venezuela, aviación, militar, bolivarianacoat, arms, b. Venezuelan Air Force Spanish Aviacion Militar Nacional Bolivariana is a professional armed body designed to defend Venezuela s sovereignty and airspace It is a service component of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela Venezuelan Air ForceAviacion Militar BolivarianaCoat of arms of the Bolivarian Military AviationFounded10 December 1920 103 years ago 1920 12 10 Country VenezuelaTypeAir forceRoleAerial warfarePart ofBolivarian Armed ForcesNickname s AMBPatronOur Lady of LoretoMotto s Latin Spatium superanus palatinus The paladin of the sovereign space ColoursBleu celeste MarchSpanish Himno de la Aviacion Militar Nacional Hymn of the National Military Aviation Anniversaries10 December Air Force Day CommandersCommander in ChiefPresident Nicolas MaduroMinister of DefenceGeneral Vladimir Padrino LopezCommanderMajor General Jose Silva AponteInsigniaRoundelFin flashAircraft flownElectronicwarfareDassault Falcon 20C Prometeo Fairchild C 26B Metro EWFighterSu 30MK2 F 16TrainerSF 260 EMB 312 K 8TransportC 130 Y 8 Boeing 707 320C Short 360 Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Modernization 4 Inventory 5 Ranks 5 1 Officer ranks 5 2 Professional and enlisted 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksEtymology editThe organization is also known as the Bolivarian National Air Force of Venezuela Its current official name has been in use since the end of 2008 It was previously called the Venezuelan Air Force FAV Spanish Fuerza Aerea Venezolana 1 History editMost of the airbases in Venezuela were built in the 1960s as part of a massive expansion program The main fighter types in those years were Venom Vampire and F 86 Bomber squadrons typically operated B 25 Mitchell aircraft The 1970s and 1980s saw a considerable increase in capacity mainly because the rising oil prices enabled the FAV to re equip most of its units The mixture of various aircraft types was maintained and the Mirage IIIE and Mirage 5 VF 5A and D T 2D OV 10A and E and T 27 were introduced Venezuela was one of the first export customers for the F 16 which arrived in 1983 to equip the newly formed Grupo Aereo de Caza 16 at El Libertador Airbase 2 3 In the 1992 Venezuelan coup d etat attempts elements of the Venezuelan Air Force were key participants in the rebellion FAV units at El Libertador Air Base under the command of Brigadier General Visconti seized control of the airbase and then launched an attack on the capital OV 10s T 27s and Mirage III fighters under Visconti s command bombarded targets in the capital and loyalist air bases destroying five CF 5 fighters on the ground Two loyalist pilots escaped with F 16 fighters and shot down two OV 10s and a Tucano claiming air superiority for the government Two more rebel OV 10s were lost to ground fire As the tables turned on the coup attempt General Visconti and his allies fled in two C 130s two Mirages an OV 10 and several SA 330 helicopters 4 See also Museo Aeronautico de MaracayModernization edit nbsp A C 130H Hercules on approach nbsp A Sukhoi SU 30 liftoffThe AMV purchased 24 Sukhoi Su 30 planes from Russia in July 2006 as a result of the United States embargo on spare parts for their F 16 force 5 In 2008 Venezuela was reported for a potential acquisition of a number of Su 35 fighter aircraft and a second batch of aircraft 12 24 Sukhoi Su 30 from Russia 6 7 It did not proceed further 8 In 2010 the Venezuelan Air Force retired their aging F 5 fleet taking the Hongdu K 8W its place after being received earlier that year 9 10 In October 2015 Venezuela announced the plan to purchase of 12 more Su 30MK2 from Russia for 480 million 11 unreliable source 12 Inventory editAircraft Origin Type Variant In service NotesCombat aircraftGeneral Dynamics F 16 United States multirole F 16A B 8 15 8 two B variant are used for training 8 Sukhoi Su 30 Russia multirole Su 30MK2 21 8 Electronic warfareMetroliner III United States EW reconnaissance 1 13 TankerBoeing 707 United States aerial refueling 1 13 TransportShaanxi Y 8 China transport 8 13 Dornier Do 228 Germany transport Do 228NG 3 13 Short 360 United Kingdom utility transport 2 13 King Air United States utility 200 350 5 13 Cessna 208 United States light utility 4 13 Cessna Citation II United States VIP transport 1 13 Metroliner IV United States light utility 1 13 C 130 Hercules United States transport C 130H 3 13 HelicoptersMil Mi 17 Russia utility Mi 8 17 6 13 Eurocopter AS532 France transport 10 13 Trainer aircraftHongdu K 8 China jet trainer 23 13 Embraer EMB 312 Brazil trainer 18 13 Diamond DA42 Canada multi engine trainer 6 13 SIAI Marchetti SF 260 Italy basic trainer 12 13 Enstrom 280 United States rotorcraft trainer 2 13 Enstrom 480 United States rotorcraft trainer 12 4 on order 13 UAVGhods Mohajer Iran surveillance SANT Arpia 12 14 Ranks editOfficer ranks edit nbsp Venezuelan Military Aviation 15 vte nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp General en jefe Mayor general General de division General de brigada Coronel Teniente coronel Mayor Capitan Primer teniente TenienteRank group General Flag Air officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadetProfessional and enlisted edit nbsp Venezuelan Military Aviation 15 vte nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp No insigniaSargento supervisor Sargento ayudante Sargento mayor de primera Sargento mayor de segunda Sargento mayor de tercera Sargento primero Sargento segundo Cabo primero Cabo segundo Distinguido AviadorRank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs EnlistedReferences edit Sukhoi Su 30 story in colours Sukhoi Su 30 fighter worldwide camouflage and painting schemes Mars slipsk pl Archived from the original on 30 October 2014 Retrieved 30 October 2014 F 16s for Venezuela F 16 net Archived from the original on 30 August 2014 Retrieved 30 October 2014 Venezuelan F 16s Airtoaircombat com Archived from the original on 8 May 2004 Retrieved 30 October 2014 Cooper Tom Venezuelan Coup Attempt 1992 ACIG org Archived from the original on 29 October 2013 Retrieved 22 January 2013 1 Archived 14 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Venezuela Buying Su 30s Helicopters etc From Russia defenseindustrydaily com Archived from the original on 16 June 2017 Retrieved 25 May 2017 Venezuela buys Russian aircraft tanks to boost power UPI Archived from the original on 30 October 2014 Retrieved 30 October 2014 a b c d e Embraer In association with 2024 World Air Forces directory Flight Global Retrieved 23 December 2023 El caza bombardero ligero VF 5 en la Fuerza Aerea Venezolana FAV Club 19 December 2015 Archived from the original on 17 May 2017 Retrieved 25 March 2017 https www key aero article insight venezuelas modern air force Venezuela allocates 480m to buy Sukhoi aircraft from Russia airforce technology com November 2015 Archived from the original on 22 November 2015 Retrieved 2 November 2015 Pese a la crisis economica Venezuela compra doce cazas rusos Clarin 29 October 2015 Archived from the original on 2 November 2015 Retrieved 2 November 2015 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r World Air Forces 2023 Flightglobal Insight 2023 Retrieved 14 February 2023 La Fuerza Aerea Venezolana exhibe sus vehiculos aereos no tripulados ANT 1X Infodefensa com 25 November 2011 Retrieved 30 October 2014 a b Manual de Uniformes de la Aviacion Militar Bolivariana PDF aviacion mil ve in Spanish Ministry of Defense Venezuela November 2009 Retrieved 18 June 2021 Bibliography editHagedorn Dan Latin Mitchells North American B 25s in South America Part Three Air Enthusiast No 107 September October 2003 pp 36 41 ISSN 0143 5450External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Venezuela in Spanish Sitio oficial de la Aviacion Militar de Venezuela U S Arms Sales to Venezuela from the Dean Peter Krogh Foreign Affairs Digital Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Venezuelan Air Force amp oldid 1216916082, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
