The Chilean Navy complements its surface and submarine fleet with one of the most powerful naval aviation arms in South America. Cees-Jan van der Ende and Cristobal Soto Pino visited its aviators, who operate over one of the most extensive coastlines in the world.
Force Report Chilean Naval Aviation
Naval aviation began in South America in 1919 when the Armada de Chile (Chilean Navy) launched operations with the continent’s first military seaplanes – three Sopwith Babies, six Short 184s and two Avro 504s. The fleet was augmented in 1925 by a further four Avro 504s, plus four new Fairey IIIF seaplanes and eight Dornier Wal flying boats. However, in March 1930, President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo unified the navy and army air services, and both now came under the jurisdiction of the Aviation Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior, effectively creating an independent air force. The navy’s aircraft, crews and even Quintero air base – located due west of the capital Santiago, and inaugurated five years earlier – became part of the newly founded Fuerza Aérea Nacional (National Air Force). This would ultimately become today’s Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh, Chilean Air Force).
Resurgence
Although limited o…
