In the same week that it turns 77 years old, the 1st Squadron of the 14th Aviation Group, the Pampa Squadron, reached an important and historic milestone: 100 flight hours with F-5 Tiger II fighters. The milestone, reached this Monday (18), was celebrated by the unit of Brazilian Air Force (FAB) at its headquarters, the Canoas Air Base (RS).
To celebrate, 'Catorze' made a special flight with five F-5 fighters. Leading the formation, the two-seat F-5FM was crewed by the squadron commander, Lieutenant-Colonel André Navarro de Lima, who shared the nacelle with the commander of the Fifth Regional Air Command (V COMAR), Major-Brigadier Vincent Dang. According to the air force, Pampa's 100 F-5 hours are evidence of the commitment and dedication of the unit's personnel to the service of Brazil.
“At this moment, the Pampa Squadron has reached the remarkable milestone of 100 thousand hours flown in F-5 aircraft. This unique feat was possible thanks to the effort and dedication of everyone, pilots, maintainers, controllers and istrative , yesterday and today, who, with their work, often silent, made and make this Squadron what it is. And here's to many more hours flown by the 1st/14th GAV. The hunt! Pampa!”, Lt. Col. Navarro celebrated on the radio.
After landing, the pilots were received by the Commander of the Canoas base, Lieutenant-Colonel Aviator Thiago Romanelli Rodrigues; by the Pampa Squadron personnel; by family ; by the BACO Music Band and aviation irers.
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During the reception, Air Major General Dang expressed his joy. “Firstly, I would like to thank Lieutenant-Colonel Aviator Navarro for granting me the unique opportunity, twenty-five years after my last F-5 flight, to return to the cockpit of this fantastic fighter. This brought me oxygen and rejuvenation that, for me, is priceless. Even more so considering this special situation, a historic feat for the 1st/14th Aviation Group, when it reached the significant mark of 100 thousand hours of F-5, which must be dedicated to all of this Air Unit, from yesterday and today, Officers, Graduates and Soldiers, who contributed to achieving this moment”, highlighted Major-Brigadier Dang.
To the milestone, the commanders of V COMAR, the air base and Catorze unveiled the monument of 100 thousand hours of F-5, in front of the hangar that houses the squadron. The piece represents the same wafer used by the squadron commander and operations officer.
F-5 de Canoas
The history of the Tigres Gauchos begins in November 1976, when Pampa received its first 12 F-5Es, aircraft from the 1st batch acquired new from the factory by the FAB. From there, the counting of flight hours begins, which reached the significant number today.
In 1988, the Air Force acquired a batch of used F-5E/F fighters from the US Air Force. All 26 aircraft were sent to Pampa, where the former aggressors remained flying for a long time, until modernization work began. Pampa was the squadron chosen to deploy the 'new' F-5s, receiving the first updated plane in September 2005.
The modernization gave enormous survival to the small North American fighter, which continues to protect Brazilian airspace. Today, it is impossible to talk about F-5 in Brazil without mentioning the Pampa de Canoas Squadron!
With information from FAB
