FMA IA 63 Pampa
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| IA 63 Pampa | |
|---|---|
| Type | Basic trainer Light attack |
| Manufacturer | Fabrica Militar de Aviones Lockheed Martin |
| Maiden flight | 6 October 1984 |
| Status | Operational |
| Primary user | Argentine Air Force |
| Number built | 20 |
The FMA IA 63 Pampa is an advanced trainer aircraft with combat capability, produced in Argentina by FMA with assistance from Dornier of Germany.
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Although influenced by the Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet design, the Pampa differs in being a smaller aircraft, it is also single-engined and has straight instead of swept wings. Also the avionics systems are simpler than the Franco-German aircraft, which has an important combat second role.
The Pampa prototype first flew on October 6, 1984.
Production of the initial series has been delayed and hampered by the state of the Argentinian economy, and as a result only 20 production aircraft have been built for the Argentine Air Force. They are in service with the IV Air Brigade at Mendoza in the advanced training role of Argentine pilots.
In the 1990s, LTV/Vought selected the IA63 as the basis for the Pampa 2000, which Vought entered into the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System. It lost to the Beechcraft/Raytheon entry which became the T-6 Texan II.
With the acquisition of FMA by Lockheed-Martin the Pampa went from a MLU (mid life upgrade) with new engine, a more advanced avionics compatible with the A-4AR and weapon system. This new project is called AT-63 Pampa (for attack-trainer) and is commercialized by Lockheed-Martin itself. By now the only client is the Argentinian Air Force who is in the process of modernize its entire fleet and buying 6 new built units. The AT-63 was also offered to Colombia, Greece and Venezuela.
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 35 ft 10.25 in (10.93 m)
- Wingspan: 31 ft 9.25 in (9.68 m)
- Height: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
- Wing area: 168.2 ft² (15.63 m²)
- Empty weight: 6,219 lb (2,821 kg)
- Loaded weight: 8,378 lb (3,800 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 11,023 lb (5,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Garrett TFE731-2-2N turbofan, 3,500 lbf (15.6 kN)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 466 mph (750 km/h)
- Cruise speed: mph (km/h)
- Service ceiling: 42,325 ft (12,900 m)
Armament
- 2 × 30mm cannon
- 4 underwing hardpoints, max load 2,557 lb (1,160 kg)
- AT-63 Official page at Lockheed Martin website
- Global Security.org page Plane specifications
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