Afonsos Air Force Base – BAAF is a base of the

Brazilian Air Force The Brazilian Air Force (, FAB) is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Brazilian Brazilian Army Aviation (1919–1941), Army and Brazilian Naval Aviation, Nav ...

, located in the district of Marechal Hermes, in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

, Brazil.

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'') and an airfield was opened on December 12, 1912. 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, Campo dos Afonsos became of exclusive use of the

and the new Air Force Base was commissioned as Afonsos Air Force Base. Today the base is home to the University of the Brazilian Air Force, the institution of higher education of the Brazilian Air Force, and of the Aerospace Museum. On December 12, 2012 the aerodrome celebrated its centennial anniversary.

Units

Since January 2017 there are no permanent flying units assigned Afonsos Air Force Base. Whenever needed, the aerodrome is used as a support facility to other air units of the Brazilian Air Force, Navy and Army. ''Former Units''
February 1958 – 2013: 1st Squadron of the 1st Troops Transportation Group (1º/1ºGTT) ''Coral''. The squadron was moved to

Galeão Air Force Base Galeão Air Force Base – ALA11 is a base of the Brazilian Air Force located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is named after nearby ''Praia do Galeão'' (''Galleon Beach''), where in 1663 the galleon '' Padre Eterno'' was built. It shares som ...

.
November 1961 – 2013: 2nd Squadron of the 1st Troops Transportation Group (2º/1ºGTT) ''Cascavel''. The squadron was moved to

.
September 1980–January 2017: 3rd Squadron of the 8th Aviation Group (3º/8ºGAv) ''Puma''. The squadron was moved to Santa Cruz Air Force Base.

Accidents and incidents

*27 June 1974:

, a

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Navy and Marine Corps designation R4Q) is an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, Litter (rescue basket), litte ...

registration FAB-2301 crashed in the vicinity of Afonsos Air Force Base while operating a training flight. Two of the four occupants died. *26 March 1987:

, an

Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante (English: ''pioneer'') is a Brazilian twin-turboprop light transport aircraft designed by Embraer for military and civil use. The EMB 110 was designed by the French engineer Max Holste; it had been designed in ...

registration FAB-2324 struck a hillside and crashed shortly after takeoff. The three crew members died.

Access

The base is located approximately 30 km from Rio de Janeiro downtown in the district of Marechal Hermes.

Gallery

This gallery displays aircraft that have been based at Afonsos. The gallery is not comprehensive. File:Chegada de aviões transporte encomendados aos Estados Unidos.tif, de Havilland C-115 Buffalo (FAB) File:Museu de Aeronáutica no Campo dos Afonsos 5.tif, Fairchid C-119G Flying Boxcar File:C-130E (828758697).jpg, Lockheed C-130 Hércules (FAB) File:Iroquois (4892089037).jpg, Bell H-1H Iroquois File:Aerospatiale Puma CH-34 Forca Aerea Brasileira (8181530536).jpg, Helibras H-34 Super Puma (FAB)

References

External links

* * * {{Military of Brazil Brazilian Air Force Brazilian Air Force bases Airports in Rio de Janeiro (city) Airports established in 1912 Transport in Rio de Janeiro (city) 1912 establishments in Brazil