Embraer EMB 312 Tucano
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano The Embraer EMB 312 Tucano ( pronunciation) is a low-wing, tandem-seat, single-turboprop, basic trainer with counter-insurgency capability developed in Brazil. The EMB 312 Tucano 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.[4] The prototype first flew in 1980, and initial production units were delivered in 1983.[4] 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 an improved variant known as the Short Tucano, which was licence-produced in the United Kingdom.[5] The Tucano made inroads into the military trainer arena and became one of Embraer's first international marketing successes. A total of 664 units was produced (504 by Embraer and 160 by Short Brothers), flying in 16 air forces over five continents.[1] Contents A Peruvian AT-27 Role Trainer aircraft, with Development Background small light attack Responding to requirements capabilities Further development National origin Brazil EMB-312S Manufacturer Embraer EMB-312H First flight 16 August 1980 Design Introduction September 1983 Operational history Status Active Angola Argentina Primary users Brazilian Air Force Brazil Egyptian Air Force Colombia Argentine Air Force Egypt Produced 1980–1996[1] France Number built 624[2] Honduras Unit cost T-27: US$900,000 Iran (1981)[3] Iraq Mauritania Variants Short Tucano Paraguay Developed into Embraer EMB 314 Peru Super Tucano Venezuela Variants EMB-312A EMB-312F EMB-312S EMB-312G1 EMB-312H Operators Aircraft on display Specifications (standard EMB 312) See also References Notes Bibliography External links Development Background The Brazilian military government considered aircraft strategic equipment, and in an effort to reduce dependency from foreign companies, the state-owned Embraer was established in 1969.[6] A production license to assemble the MB.326 was acquired in 1970 to familiarize the company with military design,[5] and in 1973, the Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante was introduced with a twin Pratt & Whitney PT6A engine that later was shared with the Tucano.[7] After all-jet training program trials during the 1950s, a variety of propeller-driven aircraft was used for pilot training during the 1960s and 1970s.[8] In the 1970s, oil prices rapidly increased with the price of a crude oil barrel having risen from $3 in 1973 to $36 by 1980,[9] deflating the Brazilian economy. At that time, the Brazilian Air Force operated the J69-powerered Cessna T-37C,[10] which was a 1950s design and following the 1970s energy crisis, became expensive to operate.[11] In 1977, the Brazilian Air Force expressed a desire to replace the T-37,[12] specifying that the replacement would need to be cheap to operate, designed to closely imitate the characteristics of jet aircraft[13] and should have ejection seats.[12] During the 1970s the Brazilian Air Force operated over 100 piston-powered Neiva Universal basic trainers.[14] Encouraged to undertake a follow-on project known as "Universal II", Indústria Aeronáutica Neiva rolled out the prototype N621A (YT-25A) in 1975 with an extended body, four hard points,[15] and the more powerful 400 hp Lycoming IO-720-A1A engine which drove a three-bladed Hartzell propeller.[16] The YT-25B prototype, a further modified version with six hard points,[3] flew on 22 October 1978,[15] but it did not meet requirements since the type was slower and smaller, and had side-by-side seats and a rear jump seat.[17] Two years later, the company was acquired by Embraer.[18] In 1973, designer Joseph Kovács moved from Neiva to Embraer,[19] bringing with him a number of studies based on the Neiva Universal, including a development of the tandem-seat, turbo-prop Carajá.[20] Responding to requirements In early 1977, Embraer forwarded two proposals for the Brazilian Air Force trainer requirement: the Lycoming TIO-541-powered EMB-301 basic trainer based on the Neiva Universal and the PT6A-powered[21] EMB-311 counter- insurgency aircraft based on the Carajá.[20] None of the proposals was acceptable to the Air Force, but interest was expressed in the higher-performance EMB-311.[22] Later on that same year, the Ministry of Aeronautics (Ministério da Aeronáutica) released a new requirement.[22] Therefore, in January 1978, Embraer's design team, which was led by Guido Fontegalante Pessotti and included Joseph Kovacs, commenced to redesign the EMB-311 to produce the EMB- 312.[23] On 6 December 1978, Embraer was officially awarded a contract to produce two prototypes and two airframes for fatigue tests.[24] The specifications were concluded in February 1979,[25] and the main differences from the EMB-311 were the more powerful PT6A-25C engine, raised rear cockpit, and the addition of ejection seats.[20] Eventually, the original specifications underwent a major modification, including a smaller fuselage with an upright cruciform tail instead of a swept-back tail; a more domed canopy; extended elevators; greater distance between the nosewheel and back wheel; reduction of the wing root; and an increased wingspan, tailplane, and landing gear.[20] By late 1979, a full- scale mock-up was built with a cockpit for the evaluation of flight instruments, and a subscale, radio-controlled research model was designed to evaluate the free-flight characteristics before building a full-scale prototype.[20] Within 21 months of the contract having been signed, the first prototype took flight on 16 August 1980, bearing the FAB serial 1300.[26] The second prototype flew for the first time on 10 December 1980,[27] implementing system accessibility enhancements to trim down maintenance overheads.[28] Weapons captive flight trials resulted in the addition of a fin fillet to improve lateral stability.[29] In August 1982, the second prototype was lost during clearance trials, in which full rudder was applied when the type exceeded the maximum designed diving speed (Vd) of 539 kilometres per hour (291 kn; 335 mph) by 64.7 kilometres per hour (34.9 kn; 40.2 mph), causing the leading edge skin to tear apart, followed by a −30g dive, resulting in a complete disintegration of the airframe. Both the pilot and co-pilot were able to safely eject.[12][30] The tailplane leading edge of the first prototype was modified,[30] and requirements were cleared in 1983, after which it achieved a maximum diving speed of 607.5 kilometres per hour (328.0 kn; 377.5 mph).[31] A third prototype YT-27, further modified from the previous two prototypes, received the civilian registration mark PP-ZDK, and flew on 16 August 1982.[32] The following month, the prototype made its international debut at the Farnborough Airshow, crossing the Atlantic just a few days after its maiden flight. The type was designated by the Brazilian Air Force as the T-27 for training purposes and the AT-27 for ground attack in counter-insurgency missions.[33] Inspired by one of the most well-known birds in the Amazon rainforest, a Brazilian Air Force cadet suggested the aircraft be named the "Tucano" (English: toucan), and this was approved on 23 October 1981.[33] Further development EMB-312S An agreement was signed in May 1984 between Embraer and Short Brothers to modify the EMB 312 to meet a Royal Air Force requirement for a high-performance, turbo-prop trainer to replace the Jet Provost issued in 1983.[34] Short Brothers was responsible for the final assembly and licence-built 60% of the aircraft parts, although the wings, landing gear, and canopy were built in Brazil.[35] In March 1985, after a competition with other types, the Short Tucano was declared the winner, with an order worth £126 million for 130 aircraft and an option for a further 15.[34] As well as production for the Royal Air Force, the Short Tucano was exported to Kenya (12 Tucano Mk.51s) and Kuwait (16 Tucano Mk.52s).[24] A Short Tucano development aircraft on public display, June EMB-312H 1991 During the mid-1980s, as Embraer was working on the Short Tucano, the company also developed a new version designated the EMB-312G1. Also using a Garrett engine, the EMB-312G1 prototype flew for the first time in July 1986.[1] However, the Brazilian Air Force showed no interest, and the project was dropped.[1] Nonetheless, the lessons from recent combat use of the aircraft in Peru and Venezuela led Embraer to continue the studies. It also researched a helicopter attack version designated as the "helicopter killer" or EMB-312H.[1] The study was stimulated by the unsuccessful bid for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program, in which Embraer teamed with Northrop Grumman. In 1991, one existing demo EMB-312 aircraft was modified as proof-of-concept prototype. The aircraft featured a 1.37-m (4.49-ft) fuselage extension with the addition of sections fore and aft of the cockpit to restore its centre of gravity and stability, a strengthened airframe, cockpit pressurization, and stretched nose to house the more powerful PT6A-67R (1.424 Shp) engine.[36] The PT-ZTW, s/n 161, flew in September 1991.[1] Two new prototypes EMB-312H with the PT6A-68A (1.250 Shp) engine were built in 1993. The second prototype PT-ZTV, s/n 454 (later PP-ZTV) flew for the first time in May 1993. It featured a reinforced wing skin developed for the model F, an improved glass cockpit, full pressurization system, electrical swing back canopy opening and zero-zero ejections seats.