TThe FMA IA 58 Pucará was designed by Fábrica Militar de Aviones as a ground-attack and counter-insurgency aircraft and became operational in 1976 serving primarily with the Argentine Air Force. A total of approximately 165 aircraft are believed to have been produced when production ceased in 1986.
The Pucara was extensively used in the Falklands War by the Argentine Air Force, the runways on the island being two short to operate it's jet aircraft from. It is of note that the only confirmed Argentinean air-to-air victory achieved during the conflict was achieved when a Pucara IA 58A shot down a Royal Marines Wesland Scout helicopter.
The Pucará pictured above is serial number A-515, it was captured Falklands War and taken to Boscombe Down for assessment by the RAF and is now on display at the RAF Museum at Cosford. FMA Pucara IA 58A Specifications: Crew: Pilot and co-pilot Length: 14.25 m (46 ft 9 in) Wingspan: 14.5 m (47 ft 6 in) Height: 5.36 m (17 ft 7 in) Wing area: 30.3 m² (326.16 ft²) Empty weight: 4020 kg (8862 lb) Gross weight: 6800 kg (14991 lb) Engines: Twin 729 kW (978 hp) Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprops Maximum speed: 500 km/h (310 mph) Cruising speed: 430 km/h (267 mph) Range: 3710 km (2305 miles) Service ceiling: 10000 m (31800 ft)
Armament: Three hardpoints for up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) of munitions which may include any of the following: Gun pods Bombs Rockets Mines Torpedoes
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