Embraer EMB.312 Tucano

Work on the development of a new basic trainer for the Brazilian air force began in January 1978, the product of a design team led by Ing. Joseph Kovacs. A contract for two prototypes and two static test airframes was awarded to the company by the Brazilian Ministry of Aeronautics on 6 December 1978. Given the company designation Embraer EMB-312 and known to the Brazilian air force as the T-27, the type was named Tucano (Toucan) on 23 October 1981.

The EMB.312 is a single-engine turboprop, low wing, equipped with a turbine Pratt &Whitney Canada PT6A-25C of 750shp, driving a three-bladed propeller, with student and instructor sitting in tandem under a single hood, opening sidelong. The ejection seats are placed so that the instructor, sitting behind in a higher position, has almost complete visibility ahead.

Variants

 EMB312H / AT-29 Single-engine turboprop of new generation.
EMB-312 – The standard production model.
T-27 –  Two-seat basic training aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force.
AT-27 –  Two-seat light attack version for the Brazilian Air Force.
EMB-312F –  France  model with French avionics.
MB-312H ALX Single seat version

Short Brothers Tucano

 

Tucano T.Mk 1: basic trainer version developed and built by Short Brothers in Belfast, in collaboration with EMBRAER. One-hundred-and-thirty, each powered by a Garrett TPE331-12B engine driving a Hartzell four-bladed propeller, ordered for RAF.

Tucano T.Mk 51: Twelve Shorts-built armed aircraft ordered by Kenyan air force in 1988 for weapons training. First example flown in October 1989 and delivered in 1990.

Tucano T.Mk 52: Sixteen Shorts-built basic trainers ordered by Kuwait Air Force in February 1989 for delivery in 1991.

Super Tucano

 The Super Toucano Super Emb-312 Toucan ALX (AT-29) is a single-engine turboprop of new generation, with spaced out seats in tandem, made to size for multiple applications, including missions of internal security, operational support, antiguerrilla and basic/advanced training. The aircraft is available in versions of one or two places, in accordance with the mission the one that if destines. The up-powered EMB.312H Super Tucano, was developed during the early 1990s and offered to the US in JPAATS contest. The aircraft was also a contender for the NATO Flying Training in Canada program. A single seat version, the EMB.312H ALX, has since been ordered by Brazil for specialist ground attack units.

Developing Nation:

Brazil.

Manufacturer/designer:

Embraer.

Production line:

Sao Jos  dos Campos.

Task:

Basic trainer.

First Flight:

– August 16, 1980, FAB 1300.
– Shorts Tucano December 1986, G-BTUC

First Delivery:

– September 29, 1983.
Shorts Tucano June 1987 to the RAF.

Crew:

2

Ejection Seat:

Martin-Baker MB BR8LC zero/zero

 

Embraer EMB312 Tucano

Wing span:

11.14 m.

Wing area:

19.4 m

Wing aspect ratio:

6.4

Length:

9.86 m.

Height:

3.40 m.

Tailplane span:

4.66 m.

Wheel track:

3.76 m.

Wheelbase:

3.16 m.

Engine (s):

one Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6A-25C rated 559 kW.

Propeller:

– Three bladed constant speed.
– Shorts Tucano four bladed constant speed.

Weight:

empty: 1.810 kg.
– fuel: 529 kg.
– external fuel up to 330 liter
– max. payload: 1.000 kg.

Max. Take off weight:

3.175 kg.

Max. Speed:

519 km/h.

Max. cruise at 3.050 m:

319 km/h.

Service ceiling:

9.145 m.

Max. Range:

3.330 km.

Performance:

– take-off run 381 m at max. take-off weight.
– landing run 370 m at max. landing weight.
– max. rate of climb at sea level 680 m/min.

g limits:

-3g to +6g

Centerline hard point(‘s):

One

Under wing hard points:

(454 kg) of stores on four underwing hardpoints, but not on UK Tucanos

Weapons:

12.7 mm machine guns, rockets and bombs may be carried

 

Operators

Brazil.

– 151

Angola.

14 six from Peru

Argentina.

– 30

Colombia.

– 14

Egypt.

– 54

France.

– 50

Great Britain.

– 131

 

Honduras.

 

– 12

Iran.

– 15

Iraq.

– 80

Kenya.

– 12

Kuwait.

– 16

Paraguay.

– 6

Peru.

– 30

Venezuela.

– 31

 

All pictures courtesy of Zijde Aviation Photo and Publishing, Marcel van Leeuwen and Rob Vogelaar.