Military aviation in Nicaragua can be traced back as far as 1920 when four Curtiss JN-2s were acquired, although it was not until 1936 that the Cuerpo de Aviacion (aviation corps) of the National Guard was formed under Anastacio Tacho Somoza. Just two years later the name of the air corps was changed to Fuerza Aérea de la Guardia Nacional on 9 June 1938. By July 1942 lend-lease funds accounted for the delivery of more aircraft from the USA. After WW II more surplus US assets became available, enabling the air force to grow to maturity. After Nicaragua signed the Rio Treaty in 1947 it received its first combat aircraft, a batch of twelve P-47 Thunderbolts. By that time the force was known as Fuerza Aérea de Nicaragua (FAN). During the murky times which saw the CIA inspired invasion of Guatemala in 1954-1955 the FAN managed to obtain four more P-47N Thunderbolts. These were followed by 26 P-51D Mustangs and 15 T-6G Texans. In 1957, was broke out with Honduras over the Mesquita region. A cease-fire was reached and the Coco-river was recognized as the border between the two countries. The jet era started in 1962, when six T-33As were delivered, followed by one more in 1963.
>From 1978, full scale civil war broke out when FSLN-revolutionaries tried to overthrow the hated Somozo dynasty. The rebels were assisted by a fleet of various transports bringing in weapons and ammunitions. In the seventies, the FAN main additions were transport aircraft, like DHC-3 Otters and CASA 212 Aviocars. When Somoza finally fled the country in July 1979, five T-33As, one B-26, six T-28s, six Cessna 337s, two CASA 212s, three C-47s, two IAI201 Aravas, one Huey, three S-58Ts, four OH-6As and various Cessnas and Pipers were left behind. On 18 September 1979 the new Sandinist government set up the Fuerza Aérea Sandinista and took over the inventory.
As soon as 1980, the Sandinist government sent seventy cadets to Bulgaria for pilots training. Russian and Cuban advisors and construction teams were flown in to expand the military infrastructure, resulting in the construction and improvement of many airbases. One large new airbase was constructed just north of Nicaragua near Punte Huete, in order to receive MiG-21s. Large numbers of Mi-8 and Mi-25 assault and combat helicopters were delivered between 1981 and 1990, although many were lost to Contra fire. In April 1983, Libyan cargo aircraft were intercepted in Brazil, intended to deliver L-39 Albatros light attack aircraft to Nicaragua. The Contras also built up a considerable air force, containing C-47s, C-123s, Cessna 337s, Pipers and various helicopters. In 1990, elections were held bringing an end to the Sandinist rule and more important, to war. The air force was renamed Fuerza Aérea Nicaraguënse soon after.
In 1992, most surviving Mi-25 Hinds were sold to Peru, alongside about twelve Mi-8MT Hips. Only about fifteen Hips remain in service. The name of the air force changed again in 1995 to Fuerza Aérea - Ejército de Nicaragua, after it lost its independent status and became an integral branch of the Nicaraguan armed forces. The air force currently has only two operational squadrons, a fraction of its size in the eighties. No new aircraft were bought after the turnover of the Sandinistas. The Escuadrón de Transporte operates the remaining two An-26s, two An-2s and a single Cessna 404. The Escuadrón de Ala Rotativa is responsible for the operation of the Hips. Both squadrons are based at Managua's Cesar Sandino airport, although the Hips can also be found at Bluefields, Montelimar, Puerto Cabezas, Punta Huete, San Carlos, Juigalpa, Matagalpa and Siuna. Training is carried out with the Escuela de Aviacion, based at Los Brasiles.