AT-63 Pampa
LMAASA / FMA · Argentina · first flew 1984 · fighter
The Pampa is an Argentine advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft developed with early Dornier assistance, later modernised as the AT-63.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Slim tandem two-seat trainer
- Straight shoulder-mounted wing
- Single dorsal intake behind cockpit
Look for a compact single-engined jet with a straight, high-set wing, a single dorsal air intake feeding the buried engine, and a stepped tandem canopy.
Specifications
- The AT-63 Pampa has a length of 10.9 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.7 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 815 km/h (506 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
FMA flew the first IA-63 prototype in October 1984, drawing on the aerodynamic layout of the Dornier Alpha Jet but with an unswept wing. Production stalled amid Argentina's economic troubles before Lockheed Martin's local arm, LMAASA, revived the line with the upgraded AT-63 that flew in 2005.
Variants
The original IA-63 gave way to the glass-cockpit AT-63 with a more powerful Honeywell TFE731 turbofan and provision for guided weapons. Later FAdeA developments include the IA-63 Pampa III with digital avionics.
Where you'll see it
The type has served exclusively with the Argentine Air Force as its principal jet trainer and has not entered UK service, though it competed conceptually against Western trainers of the BAE Hawk generation.
Related aircraft
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