FMA I.A.58 Pucara

1969


ATTACK	Virtual Aircraft Museum / Argentina / FMA

Development of the FMA IA 58 Pucara ground-attack aircraft began in August 1966 and led to the flight of an unpowered aerodynamic test vehicle on 26 December 1967. The first powered prototype, by then known as the AX-2 Delfin, and with two 674kW Garrett TPE3311/U-303 turboprop engines installed, was flown for the first time on 20 August 1969. Subsequent prototypes were powered by Turbo-meca Astazou XVIG engines and fitted to all production aircraft. A cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, the Pucara has what is virtually a T-tail, a retractable tricycle landing gear, and accommodation for a pilot and copilot in tandem on Martin-Baker ejection seats beneath a large transparent canopy. The initial production version, the IA 58A, flew for the first time on 8 November 1974 and first deliveries of 108 ordered for the Argentine air force began early in 1976 and continued until 1986. Six were also ordered for the air force of Uruguay. Forty improved IA 58B Pucara Bravos with advanced avionics and more powerful armament (30mm instead of 20mm cannon) were ordered for the Argentine air force in 1980 but were completed as IA 58As following the Falklands campaign. A single IA 66, a Pucara with more-powerful 746kW Garrett TPE331 engines, began its flight test programme in 1980 but did not proceed any further. Pucara production ended with a batch of 40 IA 58As built from 1986 onwards but no further sales were subsequently announced and they are believed to be in store as 'white tails'.

Specification

CREW	2
ENGINE	2 x turbo-prop Turb. "Astazou XVIG", 760kW
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	6800 kg	14992 lb
Empty weight	4037 kg	8900 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	14.5 m	48 ft 7 in
Length	14.3 m	47 ft 11 in
Height	5.4 m	18 ft 9 in
Wing area	30.3 m²	326.15 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	550 km/h	342 mph
Cruise speed	500 km/h	311 mph
Ceiling	10000 m	32800 ft
Range w/max.fuel	3400 km	2113 miles

Comments

1-20 21-40

Dave Katagiri, e-mail, 18.02.2009 19:30

I'm trying to design a Model of this plane, but I can't find accurate body sections for it. I found many good 3-views, but none have accurate sections. I see on the web site a paper modeler showing what appears to be a FMA factory configuration drawing with body sections---can you help?? I am in San Diego, CA-USA

ozzy, e-mail, 06.02.2009 14:16

airfix has a 1 /72 kit for this plane,its good....but it does not have any weapons no rockets bombs nothing very plain,it has argie and uraguay decals.

AL CARIAGA JR, e-mail, 15.11.2008 09:42

nice hobbie plane. good aaa target!rpg.

elroto, e-mail, 31.10.2008 20:31

How efficient were these aircraft during the Falklands War, I know I have seen many of them wrecked or destroyed. Did they actually preform any offensive missions?

Shelb, e-mail, 26.02.2008 06:39

I guess airfix is coming out with a 1 /72 Ia-58 as part of their falklands war giftset

Butch Delvaux, e-mail, 27.11.2007 16:38

What do we (modelers) have to do to get the kit companies to listen to us, to get a kit made of this aircraft ???? Thanks

Juan S, e-mail, 03.11.2007 02:01

H marez, very few ia 63 were ever built in argentina, dornier actually some work with embraer in the late 70s early 80.

Silvio Esteban Canteros, e-mail, 09.01.2007 21:42

Thank you for remember.
The IA-58 Pucara is user for aircarft of Argetina, Uruguay, Inglaterra, Sri Lanka and Colombia.

Mike, e-mail, 04.02.2007 08:36

They should have made a jet version as well.

Mike, e-mail, 11.02.2007 00:16

I understand one of these planes shot down a British Scout Helicopter, during the Falklands war 1982.

This is the perfect airplane to shoot down enemy helicopter gunships with, since Jets are too fast for low flying Helicopters.

Alexyjvg, e-mail, 11.02.2007 02:19

Hello, my name is Alex, i'm a newbie here. I really do like your resource and really interested in things you discuss here, also would like to enter your community, hope it is possible:-) Cya around, best regards, Alex!

H Marez, e-mail, 25.02.2007 19:19

Am interested in Spares Support for the IA 63 . from those countries where this type aircraft is in current operational use.

1-20 21-40

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