During the 1980s, the Guatemalan Air Force employed Hughes 500Ds, Lamas and Alouettes, fitted with bomb racks in counter-insurgency operations.

Other than helicopters, there have been cases where other non-bombers have been used in other countries: C-47s for example, in Israel, El Salvador, Nicaragua; C-130s have been used in the USA to drop the “Mother of all bombs” IIRC.

Saludos,

Tulio

This ex-Belgian Pembroke saw service in the Republic of Honduras, with Compañia Interamericana de Aviacion (also Compañia Interamericana de Honduras), and bore the registration HR-ITA.

The second shot shows the same airplane, now at the Anoka Airport in Blaine, Minnessota, in February 2000.

Of interest, this Pembroke was used to fly a spare propeller and engine for an F4U Corsair that made a forced landing in Belize, when it was being flown back to the USA in the 1980s.

Both photos were shot by me.

The third image, shows an ad published locally in Honduras.

Saludos,

Tulio

“Canpark

Honduran T-37″

I would like to comment that those are A-37Bs and not T-37s.

Honduran does not operate the T-37.

Saludos,

Tulio

Halcyon??

I shot the attached picture back in 1986, at Ellington Field, TX.

Sorry for the bad quality, it is due to not having used a flash and because it was 05:30 when I shot the picture.

Saludos,

Tulio

For many years, aviation writers, world aviation encyclopaedias and air orders of battle have reported that 3 Magister Fouga have operated with the Guatemalan Air Force.

This is not the case. The number quoted is odd for any air force to operate, the serial numbers that have been reported, exactly match the serial numbers of similar aircraft in service with the El Salvador’s Air Force.

Last, but not least, I was present in Guatemala during the two sepparate occasions when the El Salvador’s Air Force Magister Fougas, visited and performed at the Guatemalan Air Force’s day air show.

This is one of the photos from the 1980 performance.

Saludos,

Tulio

My respectful condolences to his family and friends.

Through the last several years, Paul shared with me his knowledge and data on our favorite subject, the North American P-51, and we covered the aircraft that served in Central and South America, at length.

He was a really nice guy, and I am glad that many people feel the same way about him.

May he rest in peace.

Tulio

Could it be a Varga Kachina?

Also, there seems to be a “November” civilian registration on the band in the rear fuselage.

Saludos,

Tulio