Afonsos Air Force Base
Encyclopedia
Afonsos Air Force Base – BAAF is a base of the Brazilian Air Force
, located in Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil. The official name of the Base is Campo Délio Jardim de Matos (1916–1990) after a former commander of the base and Minister of the Air Force.
On February 2, 1914 a Military Aviation School was opened at the site. The school was a partnership with the Italian Army, but due to the beginning of hostilities related to World War I, it was short-lived and finally closed on July 18 of the same year.
On January 29, 1919 a French Military mission founded a new school of military aviation at Campo dos Afonsos. Because of this school, the Aeroclube do Brasil was forced to leave the location. For years they had no home but in 1936 it was re-opened at the Manguinhos Airport
.
Between 1931 and 1936, before a dedicated new facility was opened at Bartolomeu de Gusmão Airport
, the Graf Zeppelin
docked at Campo dos Afonsos during its stop-overs in Rio de Janeiro.
In 1941, the Campo dos Afonsos became of exclusive use of the Brazilian Air Force
and the new base was baptized as Afonsos Air Force Base.
Today it is home of not only two units, one battalion and one special squadron, but also of the University of the Brazilian Air Force, the institution of higher education of the Brazilian Air Force, and of the Aerospace Museum
.
Subordinated to the command of the 2nd Air Force (II FAe), which is dedicated to Search and Rescue, Rotorary Wings, and Maritime Patrol:
Subordinated to the command of the 5th Air Force (V FAe), which is dedicated to Transport Aviation:
Additionally, the Batalhão de Infantaria de Aeronáutica Especial dos Afonsos (BINFAE-AF), an Infantry Battalion of the Brazilian Air Force that guards the Base, and the Esquadrão Aeroterrestre de Salvamento (EAS), known as Pára-SAR, specialized in Rescue missions are also based at Afonsos Air Force Base.
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
, located in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil. The official name of the Base is Campo Délio Jardim de Matos (1916–1990) after a former commander of the base and Minister of the Air Force.
History
In October 1911 the first aeronautical organization was created in Brazil: the Aeroclube do Brasil (Flying club of Brazil). The site chosen for its location was given the name of Campo dos Afonsos (Afonsos' Field).On February 2, 1914 a Military Aviation School was opened at the site. The school was a partnership with the Italian Army, but due to the beginning of hostilities related to World War I, it was short-lived and finally closed on July 18 of the same year.
On January 29, 1919 a French Military mission founded a new school of military aviation at Campo dos Afonsos. Because of this school, the Aeroclube do Brasil was forced to leave the location. For years they had no home but in 1936 it was re-opened at the Manguinhos Airport
Manguinhos Airport
Manguinhos Airport was an airport that existed in the neighborhood of Manguinhos, near Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro from 1936 to 1972.-History:...
.
Between 1931 and 1936, before a dedicated new facility was opened at Bartolomeu de Gusmão Airport
Bartolomeu de Gusmão Airport
Bartolomeu de Gusmão Airport was an airport built to handle the operations with the rigid airships Graf Zeppelin and Hindenburg. The airport was named after Bartolomeu Lourenço de Gusmão , a Portuguese priest born in Brazil who did research about transportation with balloons.In 1942 it became an...
, the Graf Zeppelin
LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin
LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin was a German built and operated passenger-carrying hydrogen-filled rigid airship which operated commercially from 1928 to 1937. It was named after the German pioneer of airships, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who was a Graf or Count in the German nobility. During its operating life,...
docked at Campo dos Afonsos during its stop-overs in Rio de Janeiro.
In 1941, the Campo dos Afonsos became of exclusive use of the Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
and the new base was baptized as Afonsos Air Force Base.
Today it is home of not only two units, one battalion and one special squadron, but also of the University of the Brazilian Air Force, the institution of higher education of the Brazilian Air Force, and of the Aerospace Museum
Museu Aeroespacial
Museu Aeroespacial is a national aviation museum located 25 km west of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-History:The Museu Aeroespacial was inaugurated on 18 October 1976 at the installations of the old Escola de Aeronáutica , at Afonsos Air Force Base - the "Cradle of Military...
.
Units
The following units are based at Afonsos Air Force Base:Subordinated to the command of the 2nd Air Force (II FAe), which is dedicated to Search and Rescue, Rotorary Wings, and Maritime Patrol:
- 3rd Squadron of the 8th Aviation Group (3°/8°GAv), the Puma Squadron, using H-34 (Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma) helicopters for transportation, search and rescue and humanitarian missions, and small number of T-25 (Neiva Universal) aircraft.
Subordinated to the command of the 5th Air Force (V FAe), which is dedicated to Transport Aviation:
- 1st Group of Troops Transportation, (1ºGTT), divided into 1°/1°GTT, the Coral Squadron, and 2°/1°GTT, the Cascavel Squadron, both using C-130H (Lockheed C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
) aircraft for transportation of parachute troops, transportation, and search and rescue missions.
Additionally, the Batalhão de Infantaria de Aeronáutica Especial dos Afonsos (BINFAE-AF), an Infantry Battalion of the Brazilian Air Force that guards the Base, and the Esquadrão Aeroterrestre de Salvamento (EAS), known as Pára-SAR, specialized in Rescue missions are also based at Afonsos Air Force Base.