A view from the plane guard, hovering next to the ship in case of...

Good to go!

During the first cruise of the Sao Paulo with A-4 Skyhawks, this AS332F1, locally designated UH-14, was used for logistical missions.

A Bell 206, designated in Brazilian Navy service as IH-6B, is seen on the tiny deck of the Sao Paulo during operations in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Brazil. The HI-1 squadron designation means Primeiro Esquadrão de Helicópteros de Instrução, a helicopter instruction unit. The IH-6B on board of the Sao Paulo was used to instruct carrier operations, like plane guard, reconnaissance, Search and Rescue and flying a photographer around.

Operations of AF-1s on board of the Sao Paulo (A12), the former French aircraft carrier named Foch. This N-1014 was launched from the deck during the very first carrier qualifications of the type in Brazilian service. N-1014 is, like all other Brazilian Skyhawks, a former Kuwaiti Air Force aircraft.

Brazil bought several Kuwaiti Air Force A-4Kus for use at their purchased former French aircraft carrier Foch. This N-1004 was former A-4KU 807 (and assigned BuNo 160186). It was delivered to Sao Pedro da Aldeia in jan 2001 and modified for carrier use. Recently the Brazilian Skyhawks, that seldom saw sea born operations, were modified to AF-1A.

An Ecureuil operating from the Brazilian aircraft carrier Sao Paulo (A-12) while sailing off coast Brazil. The helicopter was delivered in the early 1980s to the Brazilian Navy and are designated in the Brazilian Navy designation system as UH-12. In 2002, HU-2 ("Second Helicopter Squadron General Job") of the Brazilian Navy Air Force Command based at São Pedro da Aldeia, operated the UH-12. The squadron transferred their helicopters to other units and is now operating the UH-14 (AS332) and UH-15 (EC725).

A-4KU (BuNo 160196) was delivered to Kuwait as 817 on 13 August 1977 and sold to Brazil in 1999. The aircraft was redesignated into AF-1 with serial N-1011. The Skyhawk is seen here from the safe guard helicopter during its cat shot from the Sao Paulo. N-1011 collided over the sea during a training flight and crashed into the sea off Saquarema (Brazil) on 26 July 2016. The other Skyhawk was able to return to home base São Pedro da Aldeia NAS for a safe landing.

Two SH-3As were based at the Sao Paulo during the very first carrier qualifications of the AF-1 Skyhawks. The helicopters were tasked to protect the carrier during its operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

A-4KU (BuNo 160196) was delivered to Kuwait as 817 on 13 August 1977 and sold to Brazil in 1999. The aircraft was redesignated into AF-1 with serial N-1011. This Skyhawk collided over the sea during a training flight and crashed into the sea off Saquarema (Brazil) on 26 July 2016. The other Skyhawk was able to return to home base São Pedro da Aldeia NAS for a safe landing.

The very first cruise of the Brazilian AF-1s took place in 2002. The former Kuwaiti Air Force aircraft were modified for sea-borne operations.