Escuadrilla Cuscatlán

Orden de batalla · Equipos de exhibición · Salvadoran Air Force

Escuadrilla Cuscatlán

El Salvador’s display team began on Fouga Magisters in 1978 and has flown the A-37B Dragonfly, the country’s front-line jet, since 1988.

1978Fundado
MagisterAeronave
4In the display
ActivoEstado
OperadorSalvadoran Air ForcePaísEl SalvadorTipoFormation aerobatic teamHome baseComalapa Air BaseEstadoActivo
La historia

Escuadrilla Cuscatlán: how the team came to be and what it flies today

Magisters in 1978

In October 1978 the commander of the Salvadoran Air Force’s Combat Group, Major Juan Rafael Bustillo, was ordered to form a display team. It flew three Fouga CM.170 Magister jets and gave its first display at La Aurora airport in Guatemala on 8 December 1978, followed by its first home display two days later. The coup of 15 October 1979 and the civil war of 1980 to 1992 cut its activity, although the FAS says it still appeared at national celebrations.

The A-37 team

In 1988 the team was re-formed on four Cessna A-37B Dragonflies, with a solo aircraft added to the routine. On 21 November 1999 five A-37Bs displayed over the shore of Lake Managua in Nicaragua. The A-37B remains El Salvador’s combat jet, flown by the Fighter-Bomber Group, and four aircraft of the “Escuadrón Cuscatlán” flew formation at the Ilopango Air Show on 9 February 2025.

In 1988 the team was re-formed on four Cessna A-37B Dragonflies, with a solo aircraft added to the routine. On 21 November 1999 five A-37Bs displayed over the shore of Lake Managua in Nicaragua.Escuadrilla Cuscatlán · verified 2026-10-02
De un vistazo

Escuadrilla Cuscatlán in numbers

The team

Formation
4 aviones

  • Three Magisters in 1978
  • Four A-37B from 1988
  • Four A-37B at Ilopango 2025

El avión

Flown
Cessna A-37B Dragonfly

  • Fouga CM.170 Magister (1978–)
  • Cessna A-37B Dragonfly (1988–)

Hogar

Based at
Comalapa Air Base

  • A-37Bs of the Fighter-Bomber Group, Second Air Brigade

The display

Aircraft in the display
4
El avión

Every type Escuadrilla Cuscatlán has flown

Aeronave Años Number Nota
Fouga CM.170 Magister since 1978 3 FAS 501, 503 and 504.
Cessna A-37B Dragonfly since 1988 4 Four plus a solo routine from 1988; five flew at Managua in 1999.
Known for

What Escuadrilla Cuscatlán is known for

  • First display at La Aurora, Guatemala, on 8 December 1978 (FAS).
  • Four-aircraft formation at the Ilopango Air Show, 9 February 2025 (Infodefensa).
Cronología

Escuadrilla Cuscatlán, year by year

1978

Combat Group ordered to form the team on Fouga Magisters.

1978

First display, at La Aurora airport, Guatemala.

1978

First display in El Salvador.

1988

Re-formed on four A-37B Dragonflies with a solo aircraft.

1999

Five A-37Bs display at the Lake Managua air show, Nicaragua.

2025

Four A-37Bs fly formation at the Ilopango Air Show.

Preguntas y respuestas

Everything people ask about Escuadrilla Cuscatlán

What aircraft does the Escuadrilla Cuscatlán fly?
The Cessna A-37B Dragonfly, since 1988. It began in 1978 on the Fouga Magister.
When was the Escuadrilla Cuscatlán founded?
In October 1978; its first display was on 8 December 1978 in Guatemala.
How many aircraft are in the team?
Four A-37Bs, sometimes five.
Where can I see it?
At national celebrations and the Ilopango Air Show.

Continúa el recorrido

Around Escuadrilla Cuscatlán

El operadorSalvadoran Air ForceFleet, bases and order of battle of the service that flies the team.Read the Salvadoran Air Force pageEquipos de exhibiciónEvery military display teamAll the formation, solo and helicopter teams in the Order of Battle, active and disbanded.Open the list
Fuentes y lecturas adicionales

Todos los datos, verificados

Verified 2026-10-02.