The SWEARINGEN SA226-T "MERLIN" is an executive jet designed for two pilots and ten passengers, equipped with a pressurized cabin, autopilot, and two Airesearch TPE-331-10U engines (940 SHP each). With a service ceiling of 27,000 feet, a cruise speed of 300 knots, and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 12,500 pounds, it was an efficient option for regional flights. Of the more than 300 units produced between 1965 and 1998, one bore the registration FAS-002.

The process by which the Salvadoran government selected this aircraft remains a mystery, but its incorporation into the inventory of the Salvadoran Air Force (FAS) is documented as having occurred on Tuesday, August 26, 1980, as part of a temporary transfer from the presidency. Its low operating cost, compared to a jet, made it ideal for presidential transport, government officials, and in some cases, the transport of musical artists.