Description

This fourth monograph of the series “Airplanes with History” series tells the story of the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly No. 605 from the Chilean Air Force. Twenty-four pages publish details of its construction and service for the Chilean Air Force (FACh) up to its service in the Salvadoran Air Force (FAS). This Dragonfly operated 34 years in the FACh being originally assigned to the Aviation Group No. 1 at Los Condores Air Base in Iquique, facing crises with Peru in 1975-1976 and Argentina in 1978. In 1982 it was transferred to Aviation Group No. 12, stationed at the Chabunco Air Base in Punta Arenas, where it operated until December 2009, when it was deactivated and preserved in the Supply Wing at El Bosque Air Base. During its service in this unit, it operated in Aviation Group No. 3 at Maquehue Air Base in Temuco in 1992 and participated in the multinational exercise Crucex III in Brazil in August 2006. In 2014 it was sold along with nine other aircraft to the FAS, being registered as FAS 442 and integrated into the Fighter and Bombardment Group of the Second Air Brigade. This aircraft is still in flight and has accumulated 42 years of service in the air forces of South America.