Editing Air America (section)

==Expansion and Role in Southeast Asia==
With the escalation of the Cold War and U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia, Air America became a critical asset for CIA operations, particularly in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The airline operated under the guise of a civilian commercial entity, allowing it to access areas restricted to U.S. military forces due to treaties or political sensitivities.

	•	Fleet and Operations: Air America operated a diverse fleet, including:
	◦	Fixed-wing aircraft: Curtiss C-46 Commando, Pilatus PC-6 Porter, de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Fairchild C-123 Provider, Boeing 727, and Boeing 747.
	◦	Helicopters: Sikorsky UH-34D, Bell 204B, Bell 205, and Boeing CH-47C Chinook.
	◦	By mid-1970, the airline had approximately two dozen twin-engine transport aircraft, two dozen short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) aircraft, and 30 helicopters.

	•	Bases: Air America operated from bases in South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan, with occasional missions into Burma and the People’s Republic of China. Its headquarters were in Washington, D.C., with maintenance facilities in Arizona.