The Chilean Air Force "Italian Connection" with the Breda Ba-65

AIRFORCES, Inc. Reports: The Ba.65 sprang from the concept of a flying military jack-of-all-trades, formulated by Colonel Amadeo Mecozzi as he set about procuring a modern ground-attack plane for the Regia Aeronautica. Evolved from the Ba.64, the Ba.65 was also a single-seat, all-metal, cantilever low-wing monoplane with aft-retracting main undercarriage. Initially intended as an interceptor and attack-reconnaissance plane the Ba.65 carried wing-mounted armament of two 12.7mm and two 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, and provided internal stowage for a 440-pound bomb-load in addition to external ordnance that could total 2,200 pounds.In 1938, 17 single-seat attack planes and three dual-control trainers, were delivered to Chile, thus making Chile the only Latin American Air Force to operate Mussolini's attack aircraft.

Mexico & Chile The Two Latin American Countries That Operated The Famed USN WWII Dive Bomber "The Dauntless"

AIRFORCES, Inc. Reports: The Northrop BT-1 provided the basis for the SBD, which began manufacture in 1940. It was designed by designers team lead by Ed Heinemann with a 1,000 horsepower Wright Cyclone powerplant. The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the U.S. Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was supplanted (although not entirely replaced) by the SB2C Helldiver.

The U.S. Army had its own version of the SBD, known as the A-24 Banshee, it was the same aircraft except it came it came without the tail hook used for carrier landings, and a pneumatic line replaced the solid tail wheel on some of them. This was the same version acquired and thus operated by both the Mexican and Chilean Air Forces, thus making each Country the only Latin American Airforces who operated the famed U.S. Navy Pacific War Dive Bomber.

Chilean Air Force (FACh) Phalcon System

AIRFORCES, Inc. Reports: The IAI EL/M-2075 Phalcon is an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) radar system in use by a number of countries to give intelligence to maintain air superiority and conduct surveillance. It was developed with a partnership between Israeli Aircraft Industries and Elta Electronics Industries, of Israel. The Phalcon was considered the most advanced AEW&C system in the world, before the introduction of American made Wedgetail for Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF).

Under a contract signed with Chile in 1989, the first Phalcon system to be installed was fitted to a former LanChile Boeing 707 and first flown in 1993. In May 1994 the aircraft was delivered to the Chilean Air Force, where it is known as the Condor.

Venezuela and the Hind-E / Mi-35, Latin America Most Powerful Attack Helicopter

AIRFORCES, Inc. Reports: Editor Note (Miami 2008) With the commencement of the New Year, Airforces, Inc, the publisher of Latin Airforces blog (L/AF) has learned about the presence of the most powerful and modern attack helicopter within Latin America, the Mil-35 Hind-E's.

In a telephone conversation with Col. (Av) Hector Mellado of the Venezuelan Air Force, L/AF has learned that the Venezuelan Air Force is now actively operating five (5) of the Mi-35's known as the "Caribe" within Venezuela armed forces.

We at L/AF believe as well as our friends at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) would concur that the presence of these specialized helicopters poses a significant threat to neighboring countries within the region as well as U.S. interest. Within a period of 24 months, the presence of newly purchased Su-30MK's modern Russian fighters and now the Mi-35's have come into operational view within the region, thus giving the Chavez Government a formidable offensive punch. Always keeping in mind that the acquisition of such hardware has one sole purpose with a sinister overtone.