The DINFIA IA 46 Ranquel, IA 46 Super Ranquel, and IA 51 Tehuelche were Argentine utility aircraft developed in the late 1950s.

Development and construction

The intention was to create a light aircraft suitable for aeroclub and agricultural use, and the resulting design was a conventional high-wing strut-braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The aircraft were named for the

Ranquel The Ranquel or Rankülche are an indigenous tribe from the northern part of La Pampa Province, Argentina, in South America.Tapia, Alicia Haydée"Archaeological Perspectives on the Ranquel Chiefdoms in the North of the Dry Pampas, in the Eighteent ...

and

Tehuelche people The Tehuelche people, also called the Aónikenk, are an indigenous people from eastern Patagonia in South America. In the 18th and 19th centuries the Tehuelche were influenced by Mapuche people, and many adopted a horseriding lifestyle. Once a ...

s, different groups indigenous to

Patagonia Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and gl ...

. The state-owned Dinfia organisation commenced production of the Ranquel at Cordoba in 1958. Construction was of a fabric-covered tubular structure, although the Tehuelche featured metal-covered wings. Accommodation was provided for a single pilot and a passenger in tandem configuration. In all, some 132 aircraft were built, some of which served as glider tugs for the Fuerza Aerea Argentina. Production ended in December 1968.Taylor 1969, p. 3.

Operational history

Examples of the IA.46 have served aero clubs from 1958 to date, with several remaining in operation in the late 2000s.

Variants

;IA 46 Ranquel :Initial production version with

Lycoming O-320 The Lycoming O-320 is a large family of naturally aspirated, air-cooled, four-cylinder, direct-drive engines produced by Lycoming Engines. They are commonly used on light aircraft such as the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee. Different variants ...

-A2B engine, one prototype and 115 production aircraft built. ;IA 46 Super Ranquel :Version of IA 46 with

Lycoming O-360 The Lycoming O-360 is a family of four-cylinder, direct-drive, horizontally opposed, air-cooled, piston aircraft engines. Engines in the O-360 series produce between 145 and 225 horsepower (109 to 168 kW), with the basic O-360 produc ...

-A1A engine, 16 built. ;IA 51 Tehuelche :Version with metal-covered wings, larger flaps, and fuel capacity increased to 500 L (130 US gal). One built, first flown on 16 March 1963.

Operators

; *

Argentine Air Force "Argentine Wings" , mascot = , anniversaries = 10 August (anniversary) 1 May (Baptism of fire during the Falklands War) , equipment = 139 aircraft , equipment_label = , battles = * Operation Independence * Operation Soberanía * Falklan ...

Specifications (IA 46 Ranquel)

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * * * * *

External links

{{FMA aircraft 1950s Argentine civil utility aircraft 1950s Argentine agricultural aircraft FMA aircraft High-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1957