|
Congo Air Force The Former French Congo, previously the southernmost part of French Equatorial Africa, reached independence in 1958 and was provided with the standard French military aid package of a Douglas C-47, 3 Max Holste Broussard (Bushranger) and a Sud Alouette II helicopter. It soon became the People's Democratic Republic of the Congo, and fell within the Soviet Sphere of influence, receiving Mig-17 and Mig-15UTI trainers. There were later joined by 16 Mig-21 in 1986, plus An-26 transports. Today, with a very small staff, the servicability of its aircraft is believed to be low due to a shortage of spares and the difficulty of keeping little used aircraft in the open air in a hot and humid climate. Twelve of the Mig-21 are believed to have survived, with 8 Mig 17F, but are unlikely to be operational. VIP transport is provided by a Boeing 727, while there are also 5 An-24, one An-26 and an N-2501. Helicopters include 2 Mi-8, an SA365 Dauphin, 2 Alouette II and 2 Alouette III. |
Abstracted from and copyright of Jane's Air Forces of the World