I was in Santiago, Chile and I visited the Museo Nacional Aeronautico y del Espacio. This museum shows aircraft that were used by Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh). This post is the first part of visit.
First exhibition outside
These are the airplanes which stay outside in entrance of Museo Nacional Aeronautico y del Espacio. This is a Douglas C-47, medium transport military aircraft of American origin. Were produced 9500.
- Construction year: 1944.
- Engines: 2 1200 HP R-1830-92 Pratt & Whitney.
- Cruise speed: 296 km/h.
- Crew: 3 members and 28 paratroopers.
The Douglas DC-3C, civilian airplane which gave origin to C-47, was I of the most successful commercial planes. Built in 1943, has 2 1200 HP R-1830 90 DE Pratt & Whitney and maximum speed of 368 km/h.
This Beechcraft Super King Air 200 CT served as calibration aircraft, to navigation aid, and personal transport for Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC). The Beechcraft Super King Air family appeared in 1964 and it is used until today.
- Crew: 2 + 13 passengers.
- Length: 13.3 m.
- Wingspan: 16.6 m.
- Height: 4.6 m.
- Maximum take-off weight: 5670 kg.
- Engines: 2 turboprops Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42, each one with 875 HP.
- Maximum speed: 545 km/h.
- Cruise speed: 536 km/h.
This is Beechcraft Twin Bonanza, was used as air ambulance in emergence situations by FACh.
- Origin: USA.
- Purchase year: 1956.
- Engines: 2 340 HP Lycoming GO-480-F1 A-6.
- Maximum speed: 369 km/h.
- Crew: 2.
A Douglas C-47 A-65 of Aerolíneas Argentinas.
The executive airplane Beechcraft 99-A, used by civilians and military. In the 80s, FACh modified some of these planes to sea patrol and reconnaissance.
- Origin: USA.
- Manufacturing year: 1969.
- Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28.
- Cruise speed: 380 km/h.
- Crew: 1 + 8 to 15, depending on configuration.
This is the twin engine utility Cessna 337 Super Skymaster. Has an engine in front for traction and another behind for thrust.
- Origin: USA.
- Manufacturing year: 1965.
- Engines: 2 210 HP Continental 10-360-C.
- Maximum speed: 320 km/h.
Close to entrance
Closer to entrance, there are planes and helicopters that were used used by Chile and other countries.
Left side
The utility helicopter Sikorsky S-55 was used by FACh from 1957 to 1989.
- Country of origin: USA.
- Function: Multitask.
- Introduction year: 1955.
- Engine: Garret TSE 331-3U-303N.
- Maximum speed: 180 km/h.
- Crew: 2.
This is the antisubmarine helicopter Sikorsky HSS-1 Seabat, derived from S-55. Received by Chile between 1962 and 1963 through military aid pact with USA.
- Origin: USA.
- Construction year: 1962.
- Engine: 1525 HP Radial Wright R-1820-84.
- Maximum speed: 237 km/h.
- Crew: 4.
- Weapons: Antisubmarine torpedos, mines and depth load.
This is the light transport aircraft Beechcraft C-45/D-18 “Expediter”. D-18 is civilian version and C-45 is the military. Also have been used in border patrol, reconnaissance and emergency situations.
- Origin country: USA.
- Year of purchase by Chile: 1956.
- Engines: 2 450 HP Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior.
- Maximum speed: 352 km/h.
- Crew: 2 + 6 to 8 passengers.
The Cessna O-2 Skymaster is the military version of 337 Super Skymaster. Carried rockets, bombs or machine guns. An O-2 Skymaster of Chilean navy and another of FACh respectively.
- Crew: 2, pilot and observer.
- Length: 9.07 m.
- Wingspan: 11.63 m.
- Height: 2.79 m.
- Empty weight and maximum respectively: 1292 kg and 2448 kg.
- Range: 2132 km.
- Altitude: 5490 m.
Right side
A North American F-86 Sabre of Honduras. Was the first American with wings in arrow shape.
- Manufacturing year: 1950.
- Engine: 1 turbojet General Electric J 47-GE-13.
- Wingspan: 11.3 m.
- Length: 11.43 m.
- Height: 4.47 m.
- Maximum take-off weight: 7419 kg.
- Cruise speed: 1081 km/h.
- Maximum height: 15,000 m.
- Radius action: 517 km.
- Weaponry: 6 Browning M3 0.50 caliber machine guns, 2 453.59 kg bombs or rockets.
This is a supersonic jet fighter Northrop F-5 E Tiger III, developed from F-5 A, flew for the first time in 1972.
- Origin: USA.
- Year of purchase by Chile: 1976.
- Thrust: 2 General Electric J85-GE21A turbines with 2224 kg thrust.
- Maximum speed: 1700 km/h.
- Weaponry: 2 20 mm M-39 A2 and 2500 kg of missiles, bombs and rockets.
The fighter-bomber Hawker Hunter Mk-9, the first prototype flew in 1951 and bought by Chile in 1967.
- Country of origin: UK.
- Manufacturing year: 1957.
- Thrust: 1 Rolls Royce Avon Mark 207 turboreactor with 10,500 pounds thrust.
- Length: 13.98 m.
- Wingspan: 12.25 m.
- Height: 4 m.
- Maximum take-off weight: 10810 kg.
- Maximum speed: 1144 km/h.
- Range: 689 km.
- Maximum altitude: 15240 m.
- Weapons: 4 30 mm Aden cannons, bombs and rockets.
A fighter-bomber Marcel Dassault Mystère IV A used by Israel. It has been used as aerobatic plane by Patrouille de France group.
- Origin: France.
- Year: 1956.
- Thrust: Jet motor Hispano Suiza Verdon 350, 7716 pounds thrust.
- Maximum speed: 1120 km/h.
- Weapons: 2 30 mm DEFA cannons and bombs, rockets or napalm.
The jets shown above belong to first and second generation. To know about features of these and other generations, click in button below.
Jet fighter generationsClick here
The second part of Museo Nacional Aeronautico y del Espacio will stay to next post about energy. Will be shown what is inside the museum and in a courtyard behind. Remembering that published in this post isn’t all the exhibition.
