Víctor Gutiérrez
Mexico
Located in the heart of South America, it receives its name from the great liberator Simon Bolivar. Bolivia limits with Brazil , Paraguay, Argentina, Peru and Chile. Has a variety of climates and owns the highest lake in the world (Titicaca lake at 12,516 feet above sea level).
Bolivia´s prevailing political
and economical situation has not permitted the growth of its air force
and subsequently it has been oriented primarly to counter insurgency and
logistic duties for the private sector. Presently, the air defense role
is performed by a handful of ageing Lockheed T-33´s (18 of them were
aquired at the "special price" of USD 6.2 million as a compensation
for the extradition to France of a nazi war criminal) and supported by
some 20 modern Pilatus PC-7´s. Until 1990, the FAB accouted four
F-86F-30 Sabre´s from a total of nine donated by the venezuelan air
force, with parts and engines from argentinian stocks.
Air Bases and Aircrafts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71st Air Transport Group (TAM) |
CV.580, Douglas C-47, Fokker F-27-400 |
|
|
51st Air Group |
SA-315 Lama, HB-315 |
|
|
"Diablos" (Devils) Task Force Military Aviation Academy (COLMILAV) |
T-67, UH-1H Iroquois, Cessna U-206C |
|
Intl Airport |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transporte Aéreo Boliviano (TAB) Aerophotogrametry National Service 91st Air Defense & Artillery Group |
Douglas DC-8, Lockheed C-130A, Lockheed C-130H Cessna 402B, Gates Learjet 25 Oerlikon Twin 20mm, Clase 65 de 37mm |
After a complete research and analizing
the available material on the FAB, I have found different information about
the quantity and type of aircrafts in the Fuerza Aerea Boliviana. I.e.:
different sources investigated mention 13, 18, 19 and 32 T-33s in service.
By the same token, would like to know when F-86Fs and AT-6Gs were retired
from service and when UH-60s entered service with the FAB.
Aircraft in Service
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sites on Fuerza Area Boliviana
|
|
|
|
|
|
References
Air Action No.6
The World´s Air Forces (Lindsay Peacock)
America Vuela No.25 (Enrique Lira)
Flight International, Noviembre-Diciembre 1989
Lt.Crnl. Luis F. Fuentes (USAF) website
Steefan Vanhastel website
We invite all bolivian modelers and researchers to participate in documenting and expanding this information in order to improve this article. Any comment, please contact the author at: victorgf@acnet.net
