Royal Thai Army Aviation Center

Thai military aviation began in 1911 when three Siamese army officers were sent to France to learn to pilot aircraft. They returned to Siam in 1913 with four Nieuport monoplanes and four Breguet biplanes. An aerodrome constructed at Don Mueang and the army aviation units moved there on 17 March 1914. On 27 March 1914 the unit became the Army Air Corps. Since then, 27 March has been observed as the birthday of the Royal Thai Air Force.[1]

In 1918, the Army Air Corps gained the status of a division consisting of three wings. It remained under the army until December 1921 when it was renamed the Air Division and was placed directly under the Ministry of War. The Air Division's name changed again in 1935 to the Air Force Division. In 1937 it was proclaimed the Royal Thai Air Force.[1] In 1967 the Army Aviation School was founded, and the Army Aviation Center was created on 20 September 1977.

• Planning, directing, and practicing And study about Operation of the Royal Thai Army.
• Conduct research Develop, define principles and make texts in science associated.
• Ruling the military units that the Ministry of Defense requires The commander of the Army Aviation Center is responsible for.

• Royal Thai Army Aviation Center Headquarters
  • Royal Thai Army Aviation Regiment
    • Light Aviation Company
    • 1st Air Mobility Company
    • 2nd Air Mobility Company
    • 3rd Air Mobility Company
    • 9th Air Mobility Company
    • 21th Aviation Battlion
    • 41st Aviation Battlion
  • Science Division
  • Service Division
  • Airport Division
  • Aviation Communications Division
  • Aviation Safety Division
  • Disease examination unit
  • Army Aviation School
  • Department of Aviation
  • Aviation Base Defense Battalion
  • Aviation Communication Support Division

Aircraft

The Royal Thai Army is known to operate the following aircraft types:

Photo	Model	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Helicopters
	Bell AH-1F Huey Cobra	Attack helicopter	US	7[2]	Will replace by Boeing AH-6. Four were ordered in 1988 and another four were ordered in 2005.[3][4] One was lost in 2001 crash. Three in storage for spare parts.
	Boeing AH-6	Light Attack helicopter	US	0+(8)[5]	8 on order.[6]
	Eurocopter Fennec AS550 C3	Light Attack helicopter	France	8[2]
	Sikorsky UH-60L/M/A Blackhawk	Utility helicopter	US	15[7]	UH-60Ls.[8] One was lost in 2011 crash. UH-60Ms.[9][10]
	Bell UH-1H Iroquois	Utility helicopter	US	78[2]	From US military aid. Some were bought by RTA. Total delivered from 1968–2004: 174.[11] In 2016 20 UH-1Hs will be upgraded into the UH-1H Plus standard.[12]
	Bell 212	Utility helicopter	US	51[2]	48 units undergoing upgrade to tactical helicopter.
	AgustaWestland AW149	Utility helicopter	Italy	5[7]	[13]
	Bell 206 Jet Ranger	Utility helicopter	US	20[2]	Both the Bell 206A and Bell 206B are in use.
	Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota	Utility helicopter	US	5[14]	One lost in 2016 crash.[15]
	Kamov Ka-32A1	Utility helicopter	Russia	2	Ka-32A11BC. Fire fighting helicopter equipped with a helicopter bucket.[16]
	Eurocopter EC145	VIP transport helicopter	Germany	5[2]	15 on order.[17]
	AgustaWestland AW139	VIP transport/Utility helicopter	Italy	8[2]	2 on order.[2] Uses for VIPs.[18][19]
	Mil Mi-17-V5	Transport helicopter	Russia	6[2]	4 on order.[2]
	Schweizer S-300C	Observation/Trainer helicopter	US	45[2]	For observation and training
	Enstrom 480B	Trainer helicopter	US	16[2]	For training
	Robinson R44	Trainer helicopter	US	1[2]	For training
Fixed-wing aircraft
	CASA C-295W	Transport aircraft	Spain	1[2]	The RTA ordered one C-295W.[20]
	CASA C-212-300 Aviocar	transport aircraft	Spain	2[2]	Serial numbers 446 and 447 based with the VIP squadron at Don Mueang Airport.
	Embraer ERJ-135LR	VIP transport aircraft	Brazil	2	Both aircraft delivered (serial numbers 1084/HS-AMP and 1124)[21][22]
	British Aerospace Jetstream 41	VIP transport aircraft	UK	2	Serial numbers 41060 and 41094. Based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport.
	Beechcraft 1900C-1	VIP transport aircraft	US	2	Serial numbers 0169 and 0170. Based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport.
	Beechcraft Super King Air 200	VIP transport aircraft	US	2[2]	Serial numbers 0342 and 1165. Based at the Lopburi army complex.
	Sukhoi Superjet 100	VIP transport aircraft	Russia	3	Serial numbers 95093, 95095 and 95132. Registration 60317, 60318, 60319.
Unmanned aerial vehicles
	Elbit Hermes 450	UAV	Israel	4	The UAVs are operated by the 21st Aviation Battalion at the Army Aviation Centre at Lopburi.[23]
	IAI Searcher	UAV	Israel	4
	AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven	UAV	US	Unknown