Argentine Aircraft: 1912-1940s

[Badner]

The " Talleres" (or workshops) of the Escuela de Aviación Militar,( EMA). at El Palomar built small series of Henri Farmans and Bleriot X-II. A French immigrant, Paul Caistabert began to produce a series of aircraft in 1910, the first to fly successfully was the Caistabert II, completed in 1912, the Caistabert III, operated by the EMA), the Caistabert IV, four of which alongside a model V were exported Uruguay and employed by that country's Escuela Militar de Aeronáutica,. Single examples of the Caistaber models VI and VII were completed during 1915.All of these were monoplanes, similar in appearance to the Bleriot,although an original design. In the fourth photograph from the left, opposite a number of Ansando SVAs acquired postwar, you can see a gaggle of Caistabert IVs.

 

[Badner]

The Servicio Aeronáutico del Ejército (Army's Aviation Service) acquired 22 Avro 504Ls during 1919-1922, and the type proved so popular that the Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) began to manufacture the Avro 504K. The first of a series of 31 aircraft flew FMA-built Avro sample first flew on August 20, 1928 with Sargento A. Yubel at the controls. Available data is rather contradictory, but 15 aircraft were completed in 1928, 4 in in 1929, 11 in 1930, 1 in 1931. Three additional aircraft were completed during 1934-35, and 7 more during 1935-36. The FMA-built machines were assigned serial numbers 11-44. Eighteen were in service with the FMA during 1935, and the type would soldier as instructional airframes for mechanics) until 1940.
(From left to right) FMA-built Avro 504Ks over Buenos Aires, during the traditional air display and military parade celebrating the Argentine Republic's Independence Day, 9 of July, in 1937

2 and 3) Avro 504Ks under construction at the FMA.

4) Avro 504K s/n 31, fitted experimentally with a Townend ring, and an air-cooled Armstrong Siddeley Mangoose engine rated at 125. h.p