FMA IA 58 Pucara

The FMA IA 58 Pucará is an Argentine ground-attack and counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft manufactured by the Fábrica Militar de Aviones. It is a low-wing twin-turboprop all-metal monoplane with retractable landing gear, capable of operating from unprepared strips when operationally required. The type saw action during the Falklands War and the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Role	Counter-insurgency aircraft
National origin	Argentina
Manufacturer	Fábrica Militar de Aviones
First flight	20 August 1969
Introduction	May 1975
Status	In service
Primary users	Argentine Air Force Sri Lankan Air Force (historical) Uruguayan Air Force (historical)
Produced	1974–1993
Number built	110

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: 14.25 m (46 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 14.50 m (47 ft 7 in)
• Height: 5.36 m (17 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 30.30 m² (326.1 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 6.9:1
• Airfoil: NACA 64₂A215 at root, NACA64₁ at tip
• Empty weight: 4,020 kg (8,863 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 1,280 L (280 imp gal; 340 US gal) internal, up to 1,736 L (382 imp gal; 459 US gal) in external tanks
• Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprop, 729 kW (978 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 500 km/h (310 mph, 270 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
• Cruise speed: 430 km/h (270 mph, 230 kn) at 6,000 ft (1,800 m) (econ cruise)
• Stall speed: 143 km/h (89 mph, 77 kn) (flaps and undercarriage down)
• Never exceed speed: 750 km/h (470 mph, 400 kn)
• Combat range: 350 km (220 mi, 190 nmi) (Combat radius with 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) weapons, High-low-high profile)
• Ferry range: 3,710 km (2,310 mi, 2,000 nmi) max internal and external fuel
• Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
• g limits: +6/-3 g
• Rate of climb: 18 m/s (3,500 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 2× 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.804 autocannons
  • 4× 7.62 mm FN Browning machine guns
• Hardpoints: 3 with a capacity of centerline 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), wing pylons 500 kg (1,100 lb), total external stores 1,620 kg (3,570 lb),
• Missiles:
  
  • ARM-657 Mamboretá pods

Photos Rob Vogelaar and Marcel van Leeuwen