F-16s, Smoke Squadron, and Helicopter Feats Thrill Antioquia at F-AIR Colombia 2017 Airshow

Once again this year, Colombia’s military and aviation authority have come together to host the nation’s largest aerial showcase, a four-day event featuring incredible feats by fighter jets, helicopters, and other advanced aircraft flying through the Andean skies. The F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow, now in its eighth edition, in Rionegro outside of Medellín kicked off on July 13 and will last through the weekend until July 16. The stars of this year's show are the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” jets brought by the United States and the “Smoke Squadron” of Brazil. Both came to join the Colombian Air Force fleet, which among other aircraft is showing off its AH-60 Arpia helicopters and C-130 Hercules turboprop transport plane. “For us, it is important that the fleet of F-16 aircraft of the Aerobatics School of the United States be present at the eighth edition of the fair, due to the recognition they have in the air industry for being the first airplane specialized in air combat and the first fighter plane built to withstand turns of 9-Gs, attack objectives on the ground, and play the double-role of fighter-bomber,” said Colonel Edgar Sánchez, subdirector of Colombia’s aviation authority Aeronautica Civil (Aerocivil). Sanchez, who is also the director of F-AIR Colombia 2017, also sang the praises of Brazil’s contributions to this year’s event. The Smoke Squadron (Esquadrilha da Fumaça), made up of turboprop Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucanos, is a fan favorite for its signature sky-writing with emblematic smoke that can be exhausted in various colors by the planes burning off lubricating oil. “This aircraft is used mainly by the Brazilian and Colombian Air Forces in the monitoring of operations in the Amazon Basin, as well as the interception of illegal aircraft flights, smuggling control, drug trafficking, and patrolling the boarders of Brazil,” said Sanchez. In addition to the aerial shows, F-AIR Colombia, which is operated by Corferias, also gives visitors the opportunity to get an up-close look at the many aircraft on display. Some of the other aircraft in Rionegro this weekend include the Boeing KC 767 Jupiter, Cessna T-37 Tweet, Kaydet PT-17, Bell 206 JetRanger, AC-47 Fantasma, and Kestrel K-350. The following is a gallery of photos from F-AIR Colombia 2017 taken by Loren Moss of Finance Colombia. All images are copyright protected and are the property of Loren Moss. F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss) F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss)