Today marks Argentine Air Force Day, commemorating the founding of the El Palomar Military Aviation School on August 10th, 1912. This event marked the birth of military aviation in the country, as it established the first institution dedicated to training military pilots and the nation’s first military air unit.

Building on that foundational milestone, the Argentine military aviation began a process of technological, operational, and institutional development that reached a decisive moment on January 4th, 1945, with the creation of the Secretariat of Aeronautics. Since then, the Argentine Air Force has been established as the nation’s third branch of the Armed Forces, with the mission of organizing, maintaining, and deploying air assets to contribute to national defense and exercise sovereignty over Argentine airspace.

Today, the Air Force plays a strategic role that goes beyond the defense of the territory. Among its main tasks are search-and-rescue operations, fighting forest fires, providing assistance during emergencies and natural disasters, conducting humanitarian aid missions, and carrying out logistical flights to Antarctica—which are essential for supplying and maintaining communication with Argentine scientific bases.

On the 114th anniversary of the founding of the Military Aviation School, we extend our greetings and appreciation to all active-duty and retired personnel of the Argentine Air Force. Their dedication and hard work continue to be essential to the protection of our skies and the well-being of our nation.