peruvian air force

The Peruvian Air Force (Spanish: Fuerza Aerea del Peru, or FAP) is the aviation branch of the armed forces of Peru.

History

On May 20, 1929, the aviation divisions of the Peruvian army and navy were merged into the Peruvian Aviation Corps (CAP, Cuerpo de Aviacin del Peru). During the Peruvian-Colombian War of 1933, its Vought Corsair and Curtiss F11 Hawk planes fought in the Amazon region. In 1938, the corps was renamed the Peruvian Aeronautical Corps (CAP, Cuerpo Aeronautico del Peru). In 1941, the CAP participated in the Peruvian-Ecuadorian War. At that time, the CAP were equiped with Caproni 114 and North American NA-50 "Torito" fighters, Douglas-Northrop 8A-3P attack fighters and Caproni 310 "Libecho" bombers, among others. During this war, lieutenant Jos Quiones died in action and later became the principal hero of the Peruvian Air Force. In 1950, the corps was reorganized again and became the Peruvian Air Force (FAP, Fuerza Aerea del Peru). In 1995, the FAP fought in the Cenepa War against Ecuador and lost nine planes and helicopters. After the war, the FAP began acquiring new material, especially MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 attack fighters which are, along with the Mirage 2000 fighters, the main combat elements of the FAP.