2024-03-31 22:58:27
Honor your heroes With the passage of time it has defined the people and nothing would make us forget -more than four decades- the Malvinas years, where the heart of each Argentine was represented by an acquaintance, neighbor, son or brother. That feat, which still awakens feelings of ambiguity in its reason for being, unleashed sensitivities in sport as a national expression, creating international songs and rivalries, named stadiums and tribute tournaments; something that was transferred to the world of iron thanks to the Road Tourism. So it was that an ambitious objective was met some time ago, when the TC commemorated its 80 years of history since its first race (in August 1937) with a parade at the Buenos Aires racetrack, where one of the Mirage Dagger which was used in the Falklands War was exhibited before a crowd, and then rested next to the relics of the TC Museum.
On the sides are arranged the vehicles from the emblematic “Buenos Aires – Caracas” competition and its subsequent evolution into modified cups, compact cars, prototypes and those that have been seen racing on the roads and road courses in recent years. The archive is appreciated with the five senses, seeing the machines and perceiving the characteristic aroma of the workshop, some daring person will be able to touch the hood of their idol and, with a bit of luck, will hear an engine purr. The taste is limited to true fans, who say their mouths water just by seeing the story of their passion with a screenshot. But the TC Museum is different from any other because of a singularity. All its pieces, recovered to keep alive the roots of the oldest category in the world, they seem to pay homagesurrounding and looking with their headlights fingerprint finder to the winged guest. Originally Israeli, evolution of the French Mirage III, the plane is located in the center of the scene with identification C-416 and the silhouette of the Falkland Islands on the right side of the engine.
No catastrophe is necessary and, bitterly, the TC understood it with more than a hundred lives lost in the vehemence of the races between pilots and companions. It is the history that is reflected in this exhibition, between laurels and misfortunes that lead to reflection and honor of its protagonists. Perhaps that is why the Argentine Air Force authorized the loan and transfer from the VI Air Brigade of Tandil so that the Dagger, which years after the war was updated to be Finger, is appreciated by the populous TC fans. Together, they had already taken a Torino on a Hercules to Antarctica, in 2015, beginning a relationship between the entities that, respectively, opened roads to the homeland by running through inaccessible corners and, the other, with intrepidly manned aircraft. Gustavo Aguirre Faget and Luis Demierre (Boxer and Pato), were two pilots who accompanied the delivery ceremony, in October 2017, where Hugo Mazzacanestill president of the ACTC today, received the emblem.
The Mirage Dagger C-416 arrived in Argentina in April 1979 and during the South Atlantic Conflict it was part of the airmobile squadron that participated in combat missions. There were flights with instructors in two-seater units and in full use of his skills he was able to reach a service ceiling of 55 thousand feet where, according to testimonies, the curvature of the earth can be seen. Not only is he slender in his forms but he could reach twice the speed of soundMach 2.2 when exceeding 2,300 km/h.
After the landing on April 2, 1982, they painted yellow stripes on the wings so that the Argentine anti-aircraft artillery could recognize the planes and they faced all kinds of sensations in their tasks of patrolling, bombing or distracting enemies. The powerful supersonic could leave with two 250-kilo bombs and three full fuel tanks, so it was valued carefully, as it flew. Today, this unit enjoy the well-deserved retirement in a privileged place where you can see the clothing equipment that was used in the Malvinas, including an inner water suit in case it was necessary.
It is exhibited in the Highway Tourism Museum, located within the “Roberto Mouras” racetrack in La Plata, easily accessible in the KM 49 of Highway 2 although its location from the route is difficult to find with the naked eye and a GPS is practical to get there for the first time. Entrance is free and open, they reported, on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. but the condition may vary if there are competitions; so it will be appropriate contact phone (0221) 15-621-6286 for more information.