Author: Silvio Sosa - Drawings: Juan Jose Martin
Versión en Español 

Although during every year in which the Pucara was in the assembled line was tried to establish a buyer, they were few the nations that reached an agreement with the former FMA. T.E.A. S.A. was the ordered company, with little success, of the commercialization of the airplane. Through the years of production diverse demonstrations were made, generally in the IIIª Aerial Brigade, to countries such as Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, to mention the important ones, as well as a demonstration in the Middle East that counted with the support of a C-130. Next we will give some references on those countries that counted or count with the IA-58 Pucara in their air forces.

Uruguay

Towards year ends 1980, the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU) decides the purchase of 6 Pucara, to locate them in the Air group Nº 1 with base in Durazno. The machines were given of the serial numbers corresponding to the Argentinian Air Force as they left factory. For example, the matriculations that corresponded to the A-542, 543, 544,
546, 547 and 548, were dropped from rolls for their sale to the FAU. Until the present the quick Pucara services in the FAU not anticipating their replacement in immediate time. The numbers of identification go from the 220 to the 225, without no area code or letter that accompanies them. As it notices peculiar we will say that the FAU has the first IA-58 woman pilot. The color scheme used at a first moment by the Uruguayan airplanes was the three colors used by the US in Vietnam, that is: Tan FS 30219, Green FS 34079 and Green FS 34102. We must brief that the badge of the unit was placed in the empennage (tail) of the airplane. Later the FAU adopts for all their airplanes a scheme of camouflage in the Europe I style. We say is similar because all the colors of the same one are not
contemplated. For the Pucara the Green FS 34092 and Dark Grey FS 36081 were adopted, for the superior surface, and Light Grey FS 36622 for the inferior one. This it is the scheme that appears in the profile that accompanies this article.  

Colombia:

On the verge of culminating the decade in 1989, the President of Argentina donates 3 IA-58 Pucara for the combat against the drug traffic and the guerrilla. Such they were assigned to the Base of  Apiay, but indeed to the Swarm of Special Operations Nº 314. The serial numbers in FAC are the 2201, 2202 and 2203. Little one knows by these
Pucara indeed has participated for the aim by which they were donated. Of all ways the life utility of the Pucara in Colombia was short. The lack of spare parts and logistic an inadequate one finally left them out of service. The paint scheme was equal to the one of the FAA, in natural metal, with exception, obviously of the national insignias. This airplane is represented in a profile.

Sri Lanka:

Surprisingly in 1993 the Air Force of this ignoto country acquired 4 aircraft. The instruction as much of mechanics and pilots was carried out in Cordoba. Later the airplanes were disarmed and sent on board of a C-130 of the FAA. This poor country was suffering a bloody civil war against the denominated guerrilla Tamil Tigers, that in addition dominated a part of the island. The use of the machines was intense, as soon as they were in operative
conditions were put in support missions. The conditions of the climate of this country, with intense heats and high humidity, added to the intense beaten use went degrading to the Pucara Thus towards 1998 were retired from duty when only they were 2 left of the 4 original ones. Test this once again that its name was not put in vain. The
scheme of paint and insignia is represented in a profile. In the superior part was used a Light Gray, while in the inferior a Pale Blue.

England:

Let us say that included the Pucara captured by the English like a tribute to its task in the Malvinas conflict. Then the airplanes captured in Port Stanley (Puerto Argentino), those that were in flight condition or almost, were taken to England for their evaluation. The matriculations of those airplanes were: A-515, 533, 522, 528 and 549. After evaluating all the cells it was decided that the 515 would be the chosen one to return it to flight condition an to evaluate, serving the others like source as spare parts. Thus in April of 1983 ZD 485 (former A-515), flew for the first
time. The tests concluded in September of the same year. Therefore the A-515 returned to Cosford with a different pain scheme from which it had when it flew for the FAA. The profile represented in this note corresponds to ZD 485. This it had a similar scheme to the adopted one by some Pucara during the Malvinas War,  Green FS 34722 or similar, Tan  FS 30219 or similar, whereas in the inferior part in natural metal with two bands of Pale Blue identification underneath the wings.

Mauritania:

Although it was an operation that was frustrated at last moment, the fact that existed one of the three airplanes acquired by this African nation and in addition a photography, feeds our modelistic curiosity. Beyond of the details that happened to the frustrated sale, the interesting thing is the description of the standards and painting colors. The matriculation that initially it had was pasavante (provisory civil matriculation) 5T-MAB, located in the
fuselage and wings, whereas the national insignia of the country in the empennage and the wings. The colors were for desert climate were: Desert Yellow and Brown Chocolate, for the upper part, and  Pale Blue even the inferior one. The profile gives an idea us how it had left factory originally. Of course with the same scheme the A-518 can be represented, which was still renewed after each inspection that was done to it.

Bibliography: Monograph IA-58 Pucara; Nuñez Padín, Mosquera, Cétolo. Supplement Magazine ALAS. Site: www.archivo-pucara.com.ar Data of the authors.

Pucará 1 - Pucará  2 - Pucará 3