Law 20560 to promote the industry boost a strong Argentine civil aviation industry.
In order to build licensed light planes from the USA Factory Chincul located in Pocito, San Juan was founded by local empresario José María Beraza.
In this case the logic dictated that the agro helped the industry to be born.
It started in 1972 and was closed down in 1995 in spite of all the efforts to keep her open.
During the 30 year span of the life of the factory 960 planes were built. It had 450 employees and 10 production lines that worked 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
Argentina showed that can have a strong aeronautical industry…if allowed to. Economy cycles and politics of the country prevent this from becoming a reality.
Artwork by Exequiel Martínez
This painting by Exequiel Martínez pays tribute to the Argentine Piper Navajo built by Chincul, a fundamental chapter in Argentine civil aviation industry. Martínez experienced civil aviation firsthand during his years as a commercial and test pilot, capturing both the beauty of the aircraft and the pride of a world-class industry.
Exequiel Martínez’s collection spans from historic Argentine Air Force aircraft to episodes of the Malvinas War, forming a unique visual archive of 20th-century Argentine aviation.
Learn more in the artist’s biography or purchase his books in the store.
The Chincul factory in San Juan not only built Piper Navajos but also models including the Cherokee, Arrow, Seneca and Pawnee, creating a robust civil aeronautical industry in Argentina. At its peak, Chincul exported aircraft to neighboring countries. Exequiel Martínez pays tribute in this work to that industry and to the pilots who flew these aircraft across Argentina, contributing to the development of Argentine civil aviation.
The Navajo’s versatile design made it ideal for agricultural work, air taxi services, medical evacuations and executive transport across Argentina’s vast territory. Chincul’s version, built with Argentine components and adapted to local conditions, served operators from Patagonia to the Puna for decades.