Service history

1936

E1936 would be a hard year for No 1. On May 25 she suffered considerable damage in a forced landing and was out of order (FOV) for weeks. Her crew, Sergeants Elbio Gongorra and Juan Rodríguez escaped unharmed.

Shortly after getting back into flying order (OV), on July 30, No 1 had another accident when she failed to recover from a spin whilst performing an aerobatic flight at the Military Aerodrome Capt. Boiso Lanza. The pilot, Corporal Carlos Antunez, was killed, the first of 11 aircrew who lost their lives in these machines.

Nevertheless, the aeroplane was soon repaired and flew again on November 9. This incident emphasised the simplicity of construction as well as the technical abilities of the workshop personnel.

No 1, now with the prefix E corresponding to the EMAer in accordance with the directives of 31/12/35. Photographed just after being repaired in the DTAG&S after the fatal accident of July 30,1936. Military Aerodrome Capt. Boiso Lanza, January 21, 1937. Photo FAU Archive 1734.

AFrom May, instruction courses begun corresponding to the academic year, which meant eight pupils joined the Pilot Course, five the Applied Troop Course and eleven the Applied Officials Course.

At the beginning of August, the second batch of four aircraft was delivered on board the Andalucía Star. They were unpacked at the Military Aeronautics base on the15th August and completed their first flights on the 19th. The aircraft were registered from 6 to 9 corresponding to the c/ns 3499, 3503, 3504 and 3505.

On November 27, an invitation was received to review the Argentine Army's aeronautical equipment and the Chief of the Flying Instruction Division Major Glauco Larre Borges and the Director of Civil Aviation Mr. Romulo Borrat Fabini, crossed the River Plate in Tiger Moth No 9. Next day they returned from Buenos Aires in a direct flight to the EMAer after visiting installations at “El Palomar” and the Aerodrome “6 de Setiembre”. This is the only recorded crossing of the River Plate and also the only mission of an international character flown in a Uruguayan Military Tiger Moth.

There were three other minor accidents during the year.

On February 25, at Melilla Aerodrome, No 5, piloted by Corporal Juan Curbelo, suffered damage which prevented it from flying for three months; on May 29, after a landing with Lieut. Jr. Carlos Sención, No 2 went into the workshops until August and on November 30, Sgt. Juan Rodriguez damaged No 4 which was put out of service for three months.

In spite of these setbacks flying instruction continued and was expanded to include formation training and photography. At the same time, the already mentioned Mr. Borrat Fabini, Director of Civil Aviation, joined a flying instruction course and completed his first solo on December 28 in No 9.

Towards the end of 1936, No 3 was the first to reach 500 hours and to qualify for a major overhaul which was completed in the Service Division which with a standard supply of spare parts was scheduled to take around 60 days.

In December a course began for DH82A flying instructors which was scheduled to last until February of the following year.

During the Graduation parades of the courses on 17th December a formation flypast was led by the Director of the EMAer, Major Gestido, flying the newly acquired Hanriot H-431 No E-10, followed by formations each of four Tiger Moths.

Col. Esteban Cristi, Military Aeronautics' Director, with his daugther on Tiger Moth No 2.

Military Aerodrome Capt. Boiso Lanza, 1936  -  Photo Aeronautical Museum