3 potentially airworthy Pucaras (and a few non flyable) we’re returned to the UK for evaluation not just 1 as a trophy
(ZD486) and A-533 (ZD487) were used as a source of sparesffor A-515 /ZD485), although some parts were scavenged from UK stock. . More were captured but scrapped on site as they were in various state of disrepair.
I’m away from my notes at the moment but I must correct that to 6 of 11 being transported to the UK. 5 (or the remains of 5) are on display, and 1 is privately held and may now be in the US.
A-515 (ZD485)
A-517 (G-BLRP)
A-522 (8768M)
A-528 (8769M)
A-533 (ZD486) (cockpit only)
A-549 (ZD487)
In any case, it doesn’t change what we knew up until now. Several Argentine sources indicate that the aircraft was dismantled for transportation. There is still no evidence that the RAF tested it with armament.
Well, a LATAM tech tree is where this plane should belong. Otherwise, it should be in Germany with the rest of the Argentine vehicles. If not Germany, then it should be Israel. The latest versions of the IA-58 and IA-63 were modernized with assistance and components from IAI.
Many of us have been waiting for this damn plane since it first appeared in the files, some even before that. The UK can have its version equipped only with Hispanos, but only after we have received at least one Argentine version.
The IA-58 Pucará, serial number 18, was produced by the Fábrica Militar de Aviones in 1978 and was immediately assigned to its unit, the III Air Brigade, on August 25 of that year, after a failed sale to the Mauritanian Air Force, with the 3rd Attack Group based in the city of Reconquista, Santa Fe province.
In 1982, it was stationed in that unit when the landing in the Falklands took place on April 2, 1982, with 762 flight hours to its credit, crossing to Port Stanley on May 15. By June 11, the aircraft was still operational, conducting a harassment mission against British artillery positions on Mount Kent alongside two other similar units, with the squadron leader being First Lieutenant Micheloud.
When Argentina surrendered on June 14, 1982, the aircraft was found in good condition. Some reports suggest that when it was captured, it was still armed with rocket pods under its wings. After a review, it was deemed suitable for recovery and evaluation. It was airlifted by Chinook ZA707 and shipped aboard the vessel Atlantic Causeway, arriving in the United Kingdom on June 28, 1982.
As planned, the aircraft was disassembled and transported by land to the “Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment” at RAF Boscombe Down. In the UK, it was registered by the RAF as ZD485 and was flown by Vice Commodore Peart throughout much of 1983, being considered a robust and highly maneuverable aircraft. Interestingly, the aircraft participated in the Air Tattoo Festival held at Greenham Common on June 21, 1983, returning to Boscombe Down on June 25 of the same year.
Finally, as originally intended, the aircraft was placed in the Cosford Museum, UK, where it was painted in a scheme similar to the one it had when it was captured, where it remains to this day.
Source: Santiago Rivas (pucara.org)
Translated by Chat GPT
There is no evidence of armed test because it was not tested with armaments, nor have I asserted it did. ZD485 was reassembled and flown in the UK for some 25 hours, and while the guns were presumably retained during testing even that cannot be proven. Simulated attack runs were performed against a Rapier system, helicopters, and air-to-air drills against contemporary RAF aircraft, with no suspended armament fitted.
Nonetheless the eleven Pucara and their weaponry were captured in various conditions on 14 June 1982, following which date one aircraft was flown. The list of suspended armament in the specifications is extensive as it includes equipment that was not deployed to the Falklands (eg. the RATO), but which could be included in the game at the discretion of the developers. For a UK Pucara there could be a deliberately limited selection of armament to those used during the Falklands War to further reflect the events and circumstances of its capture.
I thoroughly endorse the addition of an IA 58A for some form of LATAM tree, or failing that as an Argentine subtree for Germany, and I would be very happy to see both nations receive a Pucara A in a future update. Please don’t confuse the proposal of ZD485 as some kind of claim of UK ownership over this clearly Argentine aircraft.
Taking Rivas as the best source documenting the Pucará (even the British museum cites him in the PDF you sent me), the A-515 participated in the last mission but did not engage in combat because its rocket pods malfunctioned. According to Rivas, “due to the marine environment and exposure to the elements, many electrical contacts were rendered useless.” This explains why the 515 was better preserved and chosen for testing.
It’s good that you’re able to clarify this. Given what that plane represents for Argentinians and the way it ended up in the British museum, it would only make sense for the UK to receive a premium/event version after an Argentine version is added.
P/D: Although the tests focused on the landing gear, we know you conducted simulated combat against helicopters, Harriers, and Phantoms. I’ve always wondered if you managed to equip the Pucará with lima’s to test it in a different role (like anti-helicopter, for example). If you ever come across something, don’t hesitate to let me know (I’d even support a Pucará with limas, even in the British tech tree, lol).
Lastly, as a way to apologize for mixing my personal feelings here, I’ll leave you two suggestions to improve your presentation:
It’s a counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft.
It was manufactured by FMA (Fabrica Militar de Aviones), not by FAdeA (Fabrica Argentina de Aviones).
see you later, dude!
Thank you, I have incorporated both suggestions. While writing I was deliberately avoiding the exclusive use of “COIN” in part to avoid typecasting, though I think the “Puca” was after all designed with that use in mind when the needs of the FAA in the early 70s are considered.
Something to support the listed armaments; a page excerpt detailing the suspended armaments deployed on Pucaras flying from BAM Darwin (Condor?), examples of which were captured by the British.
It lists the LAU-61, which seems to have been the weapon of choice, “Bombas Napalm”, confirmed visually to be the lozenge-shaped INC-220 which was dropped only once (on a British mortar platoon at Goose Green), and the PG-125 bombs, though they appear not to have been used.
Very happy to have found our common ground.