For almost six decades starting on 26 August 1947, Don Torcuato International Airport was a burgeoning civil aviation entrepreneurial project supporting the second largest air traffic operation in Argentina. Hosting a number of maintenance businesses, aircraft and helicopter dealers and flying schools (as well as renting hangar space for a large number of civil aircraft), the airport was the nation’s first privately-owned international airport and was best known for its airport code DOT. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, airport owner Aircom S.A. organised an air show on the 29-30 August 1987 weekend. The static display contained Aerovida (then a newly-formed medical emergencies operator) FH-1100 LV-JTW and UH-12 LV-JAM, El Palomar Technical School Pazmany PL-4 LV-X86 (also flying) as well as private Bonanza B35 LV-LSF, Cessna 414 LV-JPZ, Flightstars LV-U-028 and LV-U-121, FW-44J Stieglitz LV-YYZ “Hans J. Marseille” / “Stern von Afrika” (restored in Third Reich-style markings!), Jorge Newbery JN-01 LV-X87, Nimbus 3 D-2149/”I”, Piper PA-12 LV-NST, Piper/Chincul PA-25 LV-AXG, Piper/Chincul PA-36 LV-ODH, Stearman 75s LV-GTZ and LV-GXA and V. Taifun 17E LV-EJR.
Military exhibits included Air Force IA-58A Pucará A-568 and Sikorsky S-61R BSH-72, Army Aviation AS-332 Super Puma AE-525/70 and UH-1H Huey AE-408, Border Guard Aviation Cessna 206 GN-803 and Hughes 369D GN-918 and Naval Aviation EMB-326GB Xavante 0772/4-A-132 (also flying) and T-34C Turbo Mentor 0728/410. In addition to those listed above, flying displays were provided by Cessnas 205 LV-HZV and 182 LV-IRG (both executing parachute drops), Air Force Boeing Chinook H-91 and Robinson R-22 LV-ANF. Additional sightings elsewhere on the airfield included Air Force PA-28 Dakota PG-450 and PA-31 Navajo PG-397, Army Citation II LQ-TFM (Air Force Phoenix Squadron badge on port side) and Queen Air AE-256, Border Guard PA-18 Super Cub GN-602, Federal Police Citation I LQ-MRM, Servicios Aéreos Halcón Cessna 402 LV-MZI and JetCommander N2WU, US Embassy Flight C-12A King Air 73-1205 and private Aerocommander 680 LQ-JOL (being broken-up), Bonanza V35 CX-BIG, Brantly B-2 LV-IBX “chuf chuf”, DH Dove LV-JIU (one engine missing, damaged rudder and apparently being broken up for spares), PA-31T Cheyenne N831CM (flown by Iowa Packing?), PA-42 Cheyenne IV LV-ONL and Sportavia-Putzer RF-5 LV-EJS.
Magazine references: “Latin Americans Wings” (Vol.2 No.4, Argentina, 1987). Internet sources: Aeropuerto Internacional Don Torcuato (official), Partido de Tigre (unofficial). Acnowledgements: This story was edited from a photo gallery previously hosted by Aeromilitaria Argentina (formerly, an independent site).
