The Aermacchi MC339 , a living symbol of the honor and bravery of the Argentines in the Malvinas War , arrived in Sunchales , Santa Fe , after a long repatriation process that generated controversy when it became known that ARCA ( Customs Collection and Control Agency ) intended to charge import taxes .
The arrival of the plane , celebrated last Friday , marks a milestone in the history of pilot Owen Crippa , who dedicated years of effort to managing this return, and there is still the restoration of the plane and the construction of the museum where it will be housed.
Before managing to bring the aircraft, Crippa had explained that ARCA had notified him of the necessary payment of taxes to bring back the plane , which had been purchased from the United States to sell as scrap metal .
“ So far, they have told me that they will have to charge me and then they will return it to me. They told me this a few months ago, when I sent lawyers and accountants to prove that this is not a business, that we are six or seven people with time and even money, because the first loan we took out was not enough to pay everything ,” the national hero commented at the time.
With the Aermacchi MC339 already in Argentina , Crippa expressed his gratitude to those who collaborated in the repatriation. Now, the door is open to an ambitious interactive museum project , with a historical exhibition and an educational platform aimed at future generations.
" The logistics for assembling the plane are underway. We will need parts, mechanics and to build a suitable space for the plane and the museum ," Crippa said.
The journey of this aircraft recalls the feat of 21 May 1982 , when Crippa , as a Navy Lieutenant , carried out a daring attack against the British fleet in the San Carlos Strait . This act not only caused substantial damage to the enemy , but also provided vital information that would facilitate Argentine operations during the war.
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