On August 23, a ceremony was held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Área Materia Río IV (an important maintenance and repair base) in which were presented a Modernized EMB-312 Tucano; the sixth Beechcraft B-200 for the Argentine Air Force (FAA) and the incorporation of two new Tecnam P2002 Sierra aircrafts for training.
The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier General Fernando Luis Mengo, accompanied by the Director General of Materiel, Brigadier General Guillermo Stahl, authorities of the institution, representatives of the Armed and Security Forces and institutions related to the aeronautical field, among other special guests.
The importance of the Rio IV Materia Area for future F-16 fighters
The Chief of the Argentine Air Force emphasized the critical role of this Unit in supporting the upcoming integration of the F-16 MLU fleet:
«This is where we will allocate the most significant investments to ensure the initial operational readiness of the F-16s,» he stated. «We have a challenging task ahead, but I am confident we will succeed together. As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to a modern, dynamic Air Force that is ready to face the challenges of the 21st century.»
Hoy el jefe del Estado Mayor General de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina, brigadier general Fernando Luis Mengo, presidió el 80° aniversario del Área Material Río IV y la presentación de un EMB-312 Tucano Modernizado; el sexto Beechcraft B-200 y dos nuevas aeronaves Tecnam P2002 Sierra pic.twitter.com/MhaFBIQHpE
— FuerzaAéreaArgentina (@FuerzaAerea_Arg) August 24, 2024
See also: Argentina to acquire KC-135 tankers to extend the range of its new F-16 fleet
New and not-so-new additions
Mengo also highlighted the four aircrafts recently added to the fleet: “we have a Tucano in front of us which has been modernized in these facilities, becoming the fourth, and we are waiting for two more so that we can bring this Weapons System up to the standards required by the 21st Century. In this way, we will be able to carry out the surveillance of our borders with greater efficiency”.
He then mentioned the Beechcraft B-200 Huron, the sixth incorporated by the Institution, which added to that of the Navy, reaches seven aircraft delivered to the Argentine Republic.
Finally, he discussed the two new P2002JF Sierra training aircrafts, acquired from Aerotec, Tecnam’s official representative in Argentina. These aircraft will be used for initial flight training:
“We are also accompanied by two additions, which are two Tecnam, new aircraft that will allow us to continue with the training of our pilots, so necessary for us to face all the challenges that the Air Force has”.
According to Aerotec, the Tecnam P2002JF Sierra, with its Italian low-wing design and 100 HP Rotax engine, stands out for its efficiency and reliability, essential attributes for those starting their career in aviation. Furthermore, these aircraft reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60%, positioning Tecnam as the best option for pilot training and environmentally friendly aviation.
