Afonsos Air Force Base – BAAF is a base of the

Brazilian Air Force "Wings that protect the country" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Hino dos Aviadores , mascot = , anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...

, located in the district of

Marechal Hermes Marechal Hermes is a planned working-class neighborhood located in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, founded on May 1, 1913. Surrounding neighborhoods include Bento Ribeiro, Campo dos Afonsos, Deodoro and Guadalupe. It takes its name ...

, in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

, 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 Manguinhos Airport was an airport that existed in the neighborhood of Manguinhos, near Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro from 1936 to 1972. History The origin of Manguinhos Airport is related to Aeroclube do Brasil ( en, Brazil Flying ...

. 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

Brazilian Air Force "Wings that protect the country" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Hino dos Aviadores , mascot = , anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...

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 An aviation museum, air museum, or air and space museum is a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of aviation. In addition to actual, replica or accurate reproduction aircraft, exhibits can include photographs, maps, models, dioramas, cl ...

. 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 Santa Cruz Air Force Base – ALA12 is a base of the Brazilian Air Force, located in the district of Santa Cruz in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. History The base was originally called Bartolomeu de Gusmão Airport and it was constructed to handl ...

Accidents and incidents

*27 June 1974:

Brazilian Air Force "Wings that protect the country" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Hino dos Aviadores , mascot = , anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...

, a

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

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:

Brazilian Air Force "Wings that protect the country" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Hino dos Aviadores , mascot = , anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...

, an

Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante (English: ''pioneer'') is a Brazilian general purpose 15–21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft designed by Embraer for military and civil use. The EMB 110 was designed by the French engineer Max Ho ...

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

History

Units

Accidents and incidents

Access

Gallery

See also

References

External links