One of 11 Dual Seater AMX built for the Brazilian AF, and only one of two later modified to A-1BM standard. Between November 2 and 6, 2003, "5654" pictured here during CRUZEX 2024 was part of an ultra long 8000 km roundtrip mission dubbed "Operation Princess of the Pampas". Undertaken by five AMX's based at Santa Maria, the formation met five F-5E's in Manaus, from where four of each a/c type conducted a bombing run on a clandestine airstrip close to the Columbian border. After the smoke had cleared, the airstrip, regularly used by Columbian FARC rebels and drug traffickers, was no more.

In total, the Brazilian AF received 56 AMX ground attack aircraft as from 1989. They were all manufactured locally and designated the A-1A (single seat version), of which Brazil got 45, while the dual seater became the A-1B (11 units delivered). In the early 2000's, Embraer was tasked with an upgrade program, eventually leading to at least 11 airframes being modified to A-1AM (nine airframes) and A-1BM (two aircraft). The fate of the AMX in Brazil is sealed, the remaining aircraft will be retired by 2025. Note the Litening pod under the fuselage of 5523, operated by the "Poker" squadron.

The Peruvian AF operates 20 Korean Aerospace KT-1. The 1st four were built in South Korea, while the rest were assembled in Peru by the SEMAN SAC workshops at the Las Palmas AB (Lima) between 2014 and 2016. Twelve aircraft wear an orange / white high visibility paint scheme of the KT-1P "Torito" for training purposes, while the remaining eight are KA-1P kept in the stunning camo livery depicted on 437. A recent online report suggests that by 2025, the Peruvian AF is ready and willing to start using them for counter-narcotics missions and against drug trafficking aircraft.

Supporting three Paraguay AF EMB-312 Tucano's during CRUZEX 2024 was this 2004 built Casa 212. It's the last of five taken on strength by the small Air Force, with the first four of the version Casa 212-200 already delivered in June and July of 1984 (serialled 2027, 2029, 2031 and 2033). All seem to remain in service at the time of upload and are under the command of the "Grupo de Transporte Aereo" (GTA), and assigned to the "Servicio de Transporte Aéreo Militar" (SETAM).

The Peruvian AF became a Hercules operator in 1972, taking delivery of 6 new built L-100-20 Hercules aircraft till 1981. As from 1993, six 2nd hand ex USAF C-130A's were handed over to Peru. Finally, two KC-130H formerly operated by the Spanish AF joined the Peruvian AF fleet in September 2020, among them "393" seen here (ex TK.10-10, code 31-53). "393" is actually the 2nd Peruvian Hercules to carry that serial (after C-130A, 57-0455, c/n 3162). Arriving here at Natal from a flight from Lima to participate - and to support the five Peruvian AF KT-1P's also taking part - in CRUZEX 2024.