Air Force
After achieving independence from France in 1960 the Benin Airforce was transport equipped with seven French-supplied Douglas C-47s, four MH.1521 Broussards and two Agusta-Bell 47Gs. Two F-27s were entered service in 1978 for transport duties before being transferred to Air Benin. Also during the same era two AN-26s were acquired. In late 1985 two Dornier Do-28s entered service to replace the C-47s. A single DHC-6 Twin Otter was acquired in 1989.
The Benin Air Force maintains a small transport and utility fleet of 14 aircraft, including seven helicopters.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Agusta A109 | Italy | scout/attack helicopter | A109HO | 2 | 5 delivered | |
| Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil | France | utility helicopter | AS 350B | 1 | 2 AS-350B+1 AS-355M delivered | |
| Transports | ||||||
| Boeing 727 | United States | VIP-transport | 727-256 Adv. | 1 | Acquired from Iberia and modified in 2007/08. | |
| British Aerospace HS.748 | United Kingdom | transport | HS.748 | 1 | 2 delivered | |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | Canada | transport | DHC-6-300 | 1 | ||
| Dornier Do 28 | Germany | utility | Do.28D-2 | 2 | ||
| Douglas DC-3 | United States | transport | C-47B | 2 | 8 delivered | |
| Aero Commander | United States | transport | 500B | 1 | ||
| Surveillance | ||||||
| LH-10 Ellipse | France | Surveillance | Grand Duc | 2 | In service 2011 | |
Beninese Air Force also has two An-26s, and one Boeing 707, but these are currently grounded.
Read more about this topic: Benin Armed Forces
Famous quotes containing the words air and/or force:
“O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Methought she purged the air of pestilence;
That instant was I turned into a hart,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E’er since pursue me.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on the hustings as at the fireside.”
—J. Ellen Foster (1840–1910)