FMA IA-58 Pucara COIN aircraft.

[plan_D]

The British liked them. Yes, most of them were blown up on the ground by SeaHarriers and ground forces. My dad saw quite a few blown to pieces. The British forces captured an Argentine Huey too and were using it before the reinforcement Chinooks went down.

My dad tried to take the Peto head off one of the wrecked Hueys but didn't have the tools to take it off, and didn't want to break it, so he left it there. That would have been a great souvenier.

[CharlesBronson]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Great post CB!

As usual....

The only Pucara downed in air-to-air operation was in the 21 may 1982 1045 hours, when it was catched by No.801 Squadron CAP ( Lt. N. Ward, Lt. S. Thomas and Lt. A. Craig ). It was hit several times by 30mm cannon fire from Ward's Harrier and the pilot, Major Carlos Tomba, ejected and walked back to Goose Green. Ward later complemented Major Tomba on how he continued to fly his aircraft after Ward had filled it with so many holes.


Improved versions.


IA-58B:

This aircraft used two Defa 553 30 mm gun instead the 20 mm HS-804.
As result the lower fuselage presented a very prominent bulge to allow the chamber of this revolver-cannon.
3 aircraft completed.

IA-58C

Very improved version, single place ( the front cockpit was eliminated).
Increased pilot and fuel armor. The nose added a single 30 mm Defa 553 gun



The fixed weaponry now is : 4 x 7,62 mm with 900 rpg, 2x 20 mm with 270 prg and 1 x 30mm with 170 rpg. The total rate of fire is around 7000 rpm.



Equipped with ECM, more modern HUD and marginal pilons for Matra Magic AAM and Martin Pescador air to ground missiles.

[FLYBOYJ]

Now the Charlie version - THAT IS SLICK! I still say there's some "Kurt Tank" influance there?!?

[CharlesBronson]

Hard to tell....check this view, not a good quality photo but it shows the cockpit layout.



The only very germanic thing is the landing gear and shock damper, very similar to .....Ju-88

[evangilder]

Interesting aircraft.

[CharlesBronson]

A funny situation was presented in the early 1990s when the Ejercito Argentino ( Argentine Army) was in the search for a multirole fixed wing plane, wich could operate over the battlefield.

The FMA IA-58A, obviously being and domestic product seemed the first choice.
However the Ejercito specifications was most targeted for the recon and FAC ( Forward Advanced Control) than COIN or attack.

As result of this the Army bought 24 OV-1D Mohawk in 1993-4, this aircraft is less capable in the Coin and attack role , but the Mohawk with more advanced sensor as SLAR, FLIR, and TV operated more efective in the recon and night special-ops.




Despite being equipedd with pods for light rocket-launcher and bombs, it was never used in the support role.

[CharlesBronson]

Improved Versions, Part II:


IA-58D:

Basically a IA-58A but completely refurbished.

Amongst the most salient characteristics of this airplane, it is worth mentioning the widespread use of composite materials in the fuselage, that contributing to increase the load carrying capabilities of the machine, and they have contributed to increasing the machine's useful life span.

Some pics of the work done in LMAASA ( Lockheed Martin Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Formerly FMA), in July 2004.





The new elements includes a new electric wiring and fuel/hidraulic pipes.
Also the proppeller blades and some engine components are replaced for more modern ones.

The more noticeable differences took place inside the cabin, at the controls, mainly in the instrument panel, where instruments were replaced to indicate measures in feet, instead of in meters. For this purpose, Collins VHF 22B, CTL 22 and 32, VIR 32 and RMI 30, as well as a Garmin GPS 150 XL and a Litton HSI.

A factory fresh IA-58 Delta, note the low visibility grey, more suitable for air superiority than the low level attack arena , usual in the Pucara.



This photo was took in he LMAASA "Flugplatz", just at 15 km where I am writing this.



IA-66:

This version made his maiden flight in 1986.
It was equipped with 2 four blade, 1100shp, Garret turboprops, that boosted the performace to more than 600 km/h and increase the payload to 2000 kg.



Also carry 4 x 12,7 mm M3, instead the 30 caliber MGs.
Despite the good caracteristics of this plane, the weapons ( and engines) embargo aplied to Argentina in the post Falkland-Malvinas conflict crippled the logistic for the Garret TP.

[FLYBOYJ]

GREAT SHOTS! Did Lockheed Martin buy the former FMA?

[CharlesBronson]

Yes, the original state property FMA ( Fabrica Militar de Aviones = military aircraft factory) was privatizated and leased to Lockheed-Martin Aircraft for a 25 year period in the late 1995.



In this facility is also manufactured the trainer AT-63 Pampa.

[FLYBOYJ]

OK - That makes sense, I always see literature from LMC promoting the Pampa.

[evangilder]

Cool stuff!

[plan_D]

There's a Pucara at Duxford - it's in great shape! I took these just for you, CB...

It was captured in the Falklands.

[CharlesBronson]

it's in great shape!

Funny boy...

Thanks for your pics, this one the A-549 was used as spare part for this ZD 485 (former A-515).



A remark on the IA-58... despite the use of A-4s, Mirage IIIs, Mirage Vs for the AAF and A-4s, MB-326s, MB-339 and Super Etendars by the Armada, this propeller aircraft achieved to shot down the only enemy aircraft confirmed by the Argentine Air Forces.

[CharlesBronson]

A little more info about the AT-63.

With a fully upgraded cockpit and modern avionics suite, the new AT-63 under production in Argentina is setting a new standard for low-cost basic through advanced trainer and light attack aircraft. On June 19, 2001, Lockheed Martin presented this new aircraft during the Paris Air Show and is now offering it to customers worldwide.

The Argentine Air Force signed an agreement with Military Planes Manufacturer of Cordoba for the purchase of 12 Pampa AT-63 pilot trainers- The production is scheduled to begin in 2003. The first jet prototype conducted the inaugural flight in early 2002. The aircraft worth 6 million dollars is being offered to Colombia, Greece and Venezuela


The new AT-63 features:

-A Honeywell TFE-731-2C turbofan engine with 3,500 pounds of thrust.

-A state-of-the-art avionics suite with a Digital 1553B MIL STD data bus, full systems redundancy, a glass cockpit, laser ring INS/GPS NAV, a mission computer and an integrated weapons system.

-Fully pressurized dual control cabin with a one-piece canopy that can be electrically fragilized in the event of ground emergency.

-The ejection sequence for the two zero-zero seats can be pre-selected.
-Four underwing plus one under fuselage weapons stations enabling air-to-air and air-to-ground light attack capability.

Some internal shots still in factory.



AT-63 Characteristics

Weight:
Empty
6,217 lb
2,820 kg


Internal Fuel
2,380 lb
1,080 kg


Max TOGW
11,038 lb
5,000 kg

Wing Area
168.3 sq.ft.
(15.63 m2)

Horizontal Tail Area
46.8 sq.ft.
(4.35 m2)

Aspect Ratio
6.0

Leading-Edge Sweep
5.4 deg

Service Life
8,000 hours

Engine Thrust
3,500 lb class
1,560 daN

Performance

Max Level Speed @ 26,200 ft
440 KTAS
815 km/hr

Cruise Speed @ 30,000 ft (Clean)
350 KTAS
650 km/hr

Stall Speed- Flap-Down
82 KCAS
152 km/hr

Maximum Operational Mach
0.8


Design Load Factor
+6g -3g


Take-Off Run (ISA-S/L-Normal Fuel-8,300 lb)
1,410 ft
430 m

Maximum War load
1510 Kg.

Landing Run (ISA-S/L-7,710 lb)
1,510 ft
460 m

Ceiling
42,300 ft
12,900 m

Maximum Climb Rate (8,300 lb)
5,120 ft/min
1,560 m/min

Range
1,140 n miles
2,100 km

Roll rate
200° /sec


Work in the Factory.







Perversely, the new "all glass"avionics installed in the AT-63 trainer is far much better that some combat aircraft still used by the AAF like the prehistorics Mirage III/V/IAI Nesher, only machted by the LMASAA A-4AR Fightigh Hawks.

Nice shot of an old series IA-63.

[plan_D]

A Pucara shot down an aircraft during the Falklands? Which one? When? Where? How? I've only read three losses, all to Argentine ground fire. Feel free to prove otherwise.