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The Ecuadorian Army Aviation acquires a Sikorsky/PZL M28 as a replacement for its IAI Arava aircraft for STOL operations in the Ecuadorian Amazon, parachute drop, troop transport and other.
Update 08/24/2018:
The first M28 for the Ecuadorian Army Aviation arrived at Shell Mera. Video of his arrival from the Control Tower:
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The Ecuadorian Army with its air operations division has officially announced the purchase and addition of a new aircraft to its fleet. The Ecuadorian Army Aviation will incorporate during this year 2018 its first Sikorsky/PZL M28 multi-purpose aircraft.
Ecuador is the first country in Latin America to buy this plane after a tour of 2 months for Latin America of the manufacturer. The first results of that tour for Sikorsky/PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company are beginning to show results and other countries have also begun to show interest.
The aircraft produced in Poland has a list value from $6.5 million dollars and up depending on configuration, equipment and additional personalized for each client. In the next weeks, pilots and technicians from the Army Aviation will travel to Poland to start their training and later, company pilots will carry out the delivery flight until Shell Mera, place of operation of this aircraft.
It should be noted, that the plane is not new from the factory and is used, so its value is less than the indicated price, which is the list price.
Sikorsky/PZL M28 Skytruck
The M28 is an all-metal airframe twin-engine high-wing monoplane with two vertical tails and a drop-top tailgate..
It is a uniquely designed STOL feature aircraft designed for easy reconfiguration between different types of missions.. The M28 is proven in operations in extreme conditions with high range and payload (from the arctic, through the sea and the tropical environment) on unprepared runways.
The M28 is valued for its applicability, security, solidity, mission performance and characteristics, which has EASA and FAA certification.
In the case of Ecuador, the acquired model is the M28 Parachuting, ideal for paratroop deployment, cargo release, troop transport and other.
The aircraft is currently used by the Polish Air Force, Venezuela and the United States with more than 170 aircraft manufactured.
This aircraft can carry up to 19 passengers and carry 2.300 kilograms of cargo, which makes it perfect for the complex operation in Ecuador due to climate and geography.
With state-of-the-art technology in its semi-EFIS cabin, which allows even precision GPS approaches, this plane will be a fundamental piece of renewal for the Army, within the plan to improve the Armed Forces proposed by the Government.
Characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots
- Ability: 19 passengers
- Load: 2 000 kg
- Length: 13,1 m
- Wingspan: 22,1 m
- Height: 4,9 m
- Empty weight: 4 100 kg
- maximum takeoff weight: 7 500 kg
- power plant: 2× Pratt turboprop & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B.
- Power: 820 kW (1 131 HP; 1 115 CV) each.
- cruising speed (U): 146 kt
- stall speed (Vs): 66 kt
- Scope: 810 nmi
- flight ceiling: 25 000 ft
- rate of ascent: 2 165 ft/min
Ecuadorian Army Aviation
History
The Army Aviation weapon was born in 1954, with the encouragement of Infantry Captain Colón Grijalva Herdoíza, who initiated the necessary management to materialize the air support that the soldiers and army personnel needed.
The first 3 single-engine aircraft arrived in Guayaquil as a foreign donation, with which the Wings for the Border program began with the Army Air Service – SAE with Piper Tripacer aircraft, Taylor Craft y Piper PA-18-150.
For 1960, Cessna L-19 single-engine aircraft in military version are acquired to operate in the Eastern region, but that project did not materialize and finally new Piper Aztec twin-engine planes and five Comanche single-engine planes arrived..
With these new additions, they began military operations in Pastaza, operating on short and rustic runways with the aim of providing humanitarian aid to the most remote populations in the area., indigenous communities and oil companies.
for december 1964, the Army Command acquires two Cessna aircraft 185 with capacity for six people, with the aim of enhancing operations in the Amazon, which had been suspended due to lack of equipment, pilots and by unfortunate accidents that occurred years before.
On 1971, the SAE acquired new and modern flight units, taking a transcendental step in the life of the institution. Purchased a SKYVAN turboprop aircraft and two Heli-Porter planes, with stall characteristics. These served to give greater attention to the units of the Eastern Region.
On 1972, the operation of helicopters began in the Ecuadorian Army, when, due to a need of the I. G. M. in their topographical field work, they took advantage of the invitation made by the Light Aviation of the French Army. The event was attended by two Army pilots who, later, the work with this institute would continue.
On 1975, Arava-type aircraft were acquired (with weapons), Helping, in this way, to solve the logistical and administrative problem of the units throughout the country. They were used in paratroop drops and in counterinsurgency operations..
With the creation of the SAE and the Army Aviation, parallel, aircraft maintenance was born. progressively, staff and resources in this technical area were increased, for which the Army Aviation formed a Maintenance Center trained.
In this maintenance center, major inspections are carried out on Super Puma helicopters, Puma, Gazelle, Long, deep engine maintenance, structural maintenance of helicopters and aircraft, maintenance of hydraulic systems, electronics and avionics, and others.
On 1981 in the Cordillera del Condor, the Army Aviation performs its baptism of fire, by deploying in a professional manner and with great dedication a small group of Lama helicopters for the transport and support of the troops that were there.
After the operations of 1981, medium transport aircraft were included, like buffalo, for aerophotogrammetry work; medium transport helicopters, Cougar type, assault, like the bell 212; of combat, like the legendary Gazelles; gunships, suitable for anti-personnel and anti-tank fighting.
For 1987, the Ecuadorian Army Aviation had approximately 70 aircraft. This made it one of the most numerous and powerful air fleets in South America., due, principally, to its high percentage of operability and the modern armament that was possessed at that time.
In the Alto Cenepa conflict, on 1995 again the Army Aviation deployed the 85% of its planes for missions of attack and defense of the national territory in the face of Peru's advance on the southern border with more than 5.000 hours of various missions.
Years later, Cessna trainer aircraft purchased 172, dos Cessna 175, seven C3-FENEC helicopters, with their respective weapons, three B2–ECUREUIL helicopters, two MI-17 transport helicopters. In this way, the Army enters the era of digital instrumentation, since all these aircraft came with EFIS systems, FMS, GNS, Movmaps and weather radars.
Ecuadorian Army Aviation Fleet
The Army Aviation fleet is made up of the following aircraft or was, although its operation and exact number of each is unknown:
- Eurocopter AS550 C3 Fennec
- T-41 Mescalero
- Cessna 182
- Pilate PC-6
- Maule M-7 (retired)
- Bell 212
- Bell 412
- Beechcraft Super King Air
- IAI Arava (Out of service)
- 2 C-212
- 2 HOUSE CN-235
- 1 DHC-5 Buffalo (retired)
- Cessna Citation II
- 3 AS550 C3 Fennec
- 10 Gazelle Aerospace
- 11 Mil Mi-17 (9 Mi-17-1V and 2 Mi-171E)
- 5 TO 330 Puma
- 7 AS332 Super Puma
- 6 AS 532 Cougar
- 6 Aerospatiale SA 315B Lama
- 7 AS350 Squirrel
- 9 Bell 206
- 5 Aerospatiale Alouette III
Sikorsky/PZL
Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze Sp. zoo. – PZL Mielec is the largest Polish aircraft manufacturer. The company has produced more than 18.000 planes, including civil turboprop aircraft, jet-powered trainers, agricultural and firefighting aircraft and passenger travelers / load.
Currently, PZL Mielec continues its heritage of 80 years in the aviation industry as a member of the Sikorsky family, which acquired the company in the year 2007, and together with M28 Aircraft it also produces the legendary Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopter..
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I would have preferred to renew the Twin Otter fleet with its new series 400!
Note that the Twin operates in the FAE, the M28 is to replace the Arava.
Nico, what happened to the acquisition of SAR helicopters?
The different alternatives are still being analyzed.
Congratulations on the acquisition, good luck and good takeoffs and landings in your noble work.,
It is known how many aircraft the Army will acquire?
By replacing the Arava, more than six would surely be needed to serve the Amazonian villages or communities apart from their military function.. In the 70s, Ecuador bought from Israel around seven Aravas that were lost due to accidents or because they had already reached their useful life..
Possibly more M28s will be acquired over time, for now the budget does not allow for more.