Embraer EMB 312 Tucano

EMB 312 Tucano
A Peruvian AT-27
General information
TypeTrainer and light attack Aircraft
National originBrazil
ManufacturerEmbraer
StatusIn Service
Primary usersBrazilian Air Force
Number built624[1]
History
Manufactured1980–1996[2]
Introduction dateSeptember 1983
First flight16 August 1980
VariantsShort Tucano
Developed intoEmbraer EMB 314 Super Tucano

The Embraer EMB 312 Tucano (English: Toucan) is a low-wing, tandem-seat, single-turboprop, basic trainer and counter-insurgency aircraft developed and produced by Embraer in Brazil. The Brazilian Air Force sponsored the EMB-312 project at the end of 1978. Design and development work began in 1979 on a low-cost, relatively simple, new basic trainer with innovative features which eventually became the international standard for basic training aircraft.[3] The prototype first flew in 1980, and initial production units were delivered in 1983.[3]

Production was initially supported by a local order for 118 aircraft, with options for an additional 50 units in October 1980. It was later matched by an Egyptian licence-produced purchase in 1993 and subsequently by a variant known as the Short Tucano, which was licence-produced in the United Kingdom.[4] The Tucano made inroads into the military trainer arena and became one of Embraer's first international marketing successes. A total of 664 units were produced (504 by Embraer and 160 by Short Brothers), flying in 16 air forces over five continents.[2]

  1. ^ ".::Portal Contato Radar – Portal de Aviação::". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference contador was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "EMB 312 Tucano". Embraer Historical Center. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  4. ^ Todd, Daniel; Simpson, Jamie (30 March 1986). The World Aircraft Industry. Surry Hills, Australia: Croom Helm. p. 246. ISBN 0-7099-2486-0.