Belize Defence Force Air Wing

Belize Defence Force Air Wing
La Fuerza de Defensa de Belice air wing
Belize Defence Force emblem
Active 1983
Country  Belize
Allegiance Belize Defence Force
Type Air force
Role Aerial warfare
Insignia
Air Wing insignia

The Belize Defence Force Air Wing is the aviation branch of the Belize Defence Force, formed in 1983 it is based at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Ladyville. The main tasks of the Air Wing are Reconnaissance, SAR, CASEVAC, aerial resupply and troop transport. Furthermore they assist the police in drug interdiction and anti-smuggling operations, and can be called upon by the Maritime Wing. Two Britten-Norman Defenders were purchased in Britain and formed the backbone of the air wing for years. The two aircraft could be equipped with light armament, making them the first armed aircraft in Belizean history. The British Forces in Belize maintained a strong position throughout the eighties and it was only in 1990, twelve years after its formation, that three Belizeans took command of the Belize Defence Force as Commandant of BDF, Guard Commander, Commander of Air & Maritime Wing.[1][2]

Aircraft

Current inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Britten-Norman BN-2 United Kingdom transport / utility 1[3]
Helicopters
Bell UH-1 United States utility UH-1H 2[3]
Trainer Aircraft
T67 Firefly United Kingdom basic trainer M260 1[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Armed Forces Overviews: Belize". Scramble. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  2. ↑ "World Air Forces 1994 pg. 32". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "World Air Forces 2017". Flightglobal Insight. 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
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