Last waltz of Stella Maris

    The three Fokker F-28 Mk. 3000 that the Aviación Naval Argentina purchased in 1979, operated by 2° Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Sostén Logístico Móvi, two of them were preserved after having been deprogrammed from the service. The machine 0742/5-T-21 in the Naval Aviation Museum. Meanwhile 0741/5-T-20 is in the the Museum located in the town of Oliva, in the province of Córdoba. Coincidentally, these two were equipped with a cargo hatch (Mk.3000MC). The only one different, was 0740/5-T-10, -cn. 11147-, which was built in passenger version (Mk.3000M/IP). Appropriately it was used by the Comando de la Aviación Naval.

    Beyond the assigned serial number, it was the last to arrive Argentina, during Sep 79, and prematurely the first to be withraw from use, around the year 2000. Since then, it has been resting on the hangar platform, on the side of the Naval Air Base. Ezeiza, serving as a replacement for the rest of the Navy's F-28s. In December 2004, temporarily resided inside the Argentine Navy hangar in Ezeiza, At that time, only a few more elements were removed to be used in the other F-28s. Since the aircraft was delivered in 1979, this Fellowship was baptized "Stella Maris" (from the Latin 'Star of the Sea'), Patroness of the Armada Argentina and teh sailors, according to the Catholic creed.

    Recently, its fuselage had been cornered in the shadow of the wreckage of an Airbus A340 -LV-ZRA-. When the order came to clear the place, everything suggested that the aircraft would be scrapped.     However, it was assigned to the Superintendencia Federal de Bomberos de Policía Federal Argentina for instructional purposes.

    Last 03Oct2024, the aircraft was located near the runway 35, as can be seen on the images kindly provided by a follower of this blog.

Long live "Stella Maris". May you find new meaning in your prolific life.