Gabonese Air Force

In the early 1960s, following the country's independence from the French Republic, aerial detachments were inside the country, with the first official aerial installation being the Mouila Training Center which was established in 1966 in the south-west of the country. On January 25, 1972, by presidential decree signed by President Omar Bongo, the Gabonese Air Force became an official branch of the armed forces, separate from the army. In January 1980, at the initiative of President Bongo, the Air Force developed and adopted a combat structure, acquiring a fleet of fighters, and creating the Mvengue Air Base in the capital.[1][2]

• Fighter Squadron 1-02 Leyou at BA02 Franceville with:
  • Mirage F-1AZ
  • MB-326M Impala I
• Heavy Transport Squadron at BA01 Libreville with:
  • C-130 Hercules
  • CN-235
• Ministerial Air Liaison Group (Groupe de Liaison Aérien Ministériel or GLAM) at BA01 Libreville with:
  • 1 Falcon-900EX
  • 1 Gulfstream-III

A Gabonese ATR-42 on approach

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service[3]	Notes
Combat aircraft
Mirage 5	France	attack	Mirage 5G	3[4]
Mirage F1	France	fighter		6[4]
Transport
ATR 42	France	VIP		1[5]
C-130 Hercules	United States	transport	C-130H	1[4]
CASA CN-235	Spain /  Indonesia	transport		1[4]
Helicopters
Alouette III	France	light utility	SA 319	2[4]
Eurocopter AS332	France	transport		1[4]
Eurocopter EC135	Germany	utility		2[4]
Eurocopter AS350	France	liaison		1[4]
Eurocopter EC120	France	light utility		2[4]
Aérospatiale SA330	France	transport/utility		5[4]
Aérospatiale Gazelle	France	scout/attack	SA 342	3[4]
Trainer Aircraft
T-34 Mentor	United States	trainer		4[4]
Mirage 5	France	conversion trainer	Mirage 5DG	2[4]

Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the CM.170 Magister, C-130H Hercules, Embraer EMB 110, Fokker F28, Aérospatiale N 262, Reims C.337, and the Alouette II helicopter.[6][7]