Army Aviation: Venezuela

All pictures by Iván Peña Nesbit

The Aviación del Ejercito of Venezuela operates a fleet of helicopters and small transport aircraft to provide the Army with the important force multiplier of air mobility as well as an air transport capability. Here you will find a pictorial of the force's main aircraft types in service today. The workhorse of the Army Aviation Corps is the Bell model 412EP and 412SP. This all-purpose helicopter can be used for tactical transport of troops, patrol duties, insertions into combat zones of troops as well as escort or gunship armed with machine guns and rockets. The type will soon be repainted in the new three-tone green camoflage. Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 This blue Bell 412EP is used by the military police for security and medical assistance. Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 Bell 412 The Army Aviation Corps operated a number of Agusta-Sikorsky AS-61D Sea King for the medium/heavy transport role. The Sea King helicopter is a valuable asset to the army because it can carry the 155mm Howitser and still have enough payload capability for the Howitser crew to take place in the cabin. The AS-61 were repainted in the new green three-tone layout after their recent update which took place between 2001 and 2004. The AS-61 crews are also trained to carry out SAR and CSAR missions. AS-61 Sea King AS-61 Sea King AS-61 Sea King AS-61 Sea King AS-61 Sea King Besides these two important types the corps already operates a number of other helicopters. The Agusta A-109 is used as a multi-role attack helicopter for the battlefield. It is equipped with advanced system, multiple machine guns and rocket pods to attack the enemy or provide escort to the Bell 412s. Several UH-1H 'Hueys' are still operated in transport and medevac roles, but can also be equipped as gunship. The Bell 206 Jet Ranger is used primarily for training and liasion duties. Agusta A-109 UH-1H 'Huey' Bell 206 Jet Ranger Bell 206 Jet Ranger A seperate branch of the corps is the fixed-wing branch which is reponsible for providing the army with a medium transport capability for longer range flights. The IAI Arava has been replaced by the Polish-built M-28 Skytruck, although some examples remain in service today. The M-28 is not only used for transport, but also for medevac and recon missions. Several types of Cessna light aircraft are in the service, used for training as well as observation and liasion duties. M-28 Skytruck IAI Arava Cessna Ce-182 Besides these aircraft the army aviation corps operates Beech King Air aircraft for VIP transport and liasion. Please note that the Cougar helicopters are operated by the air force (Fuerza Aérea Venezolana - FAV). I wish to thank Iván Peña Nesbit (ivan@milavia.net) for providing me with these superb pictures. More of his pictures will be published along with his report on the Aviation Air Corps soon. On behalf of Iván and myself, I wish to thank the army officers and helicopter crews of the Aviación del Ejercito for the opportunity to take these pictures and publish them on MILAVIA for aviation enthusiasts from all over the world: Cnel. (Ej) Ávila Cnel (Ej) Iván Reyes Cap. (Ej) Carlos Quintero Regos EV-9957 Crew : Cnel. Iván Reyes, Cap. Irausquin, SM/3ra Giovanni Pombo, SGT/1ro Luis Vieira EV-9956 Crew EV-8842 Crew Tte. (Ej) Frank Rodriguez and also photographer Luis Garcia for his help. Thank you!

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