Photo: USAF/Richard Gonzales
The United States probably has the best military pilots in the world. That's owed not only to the fact that they undergo high-quality training at the hands of experienced instructors and follow very well-established guidelines, but also to the fact they have access to the best in terms of military gear. And now that military gear includes something called the A-29 Super Tucano.
The A-29 Super Tucano is not a plane that usually pops up in conversations. Made by Brazilian company Embraer, it has been in the skies of the world for just a little over two decades, but it seems to be slowly getting under the skin of aviators.
The Super Tucano is technically a multi-role turboprop machine that can be used for attack missions, or border patrol, or close air support, or, of course, training.
It is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney engine capable of delivering 1,604 horsepower to a five-bladed Hartzell propeller. The plane can fly at speeds of 370 mph (590 kph) and for distances of up to 830 miles (1,330 km).
Since launching the aircraft, Embraer got orders for 260 of these babies from 16 air forces around the world, including the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Colombia, and Lebanon. The United States joined this select group thanks to the Air Force Special Operations Command, which had a number of three delivered for undisclosed purposes.
The organization spent $63 million on the planes, but it never got to use them because "mission requirements changed." In a bid to not let them go to waste, the Command decided to hand over the planes to the United States Air Force Test Pilot School.
The School announced at the end of last week the three A-29 Super Tucano planes have already arrived at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, where they will join the fleet of trainers already in operation. The moment is incredibly important for the school, as this is the first time in 30 years it has received newly assigned aircraft.
The School says the way the Super Tuscano's air frames are built allow them to be used for spin testing. Also, the fact they have modern avionics and the ability to carry a variety of payloads on wing pylons make them ideal for pilots that are learning the ropes, and will open the doors for the Air Force to experiment with various multi-domain sensors and weapons. This, in turn, will likely reduce the reliance on the aging T-38 and F-16 planes currently in use.
The deployment of the planes in the hands of American aviators is expected to greatly increase the pedigree of the plane. To date, says Embraer, all of the A-29 Super Tucanos currently flying have clocked a combined 550,000 flight hours, over ten percent of them (60,000 flight hours) during combat missions.
The Super Tucano is technically a multi-role turboprop machine that can be used for attack missions, or border patrol, or close air support, or, of course, training.
It is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney engine capable of delivering 1,604 horsepower to a five-bladed Hartzell propeller. The plane can fly at speeds of 370 mph (590 kph) and for distances of up to 830 miles (1,330 km).
Since launching the aircraft, Embraer got orders for 260 of these babies from 16 air forces around the world, including the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Colombia, and Lebanon. The United States joined this select group thanks to the Air Force Special Operations Command, which had a number of three delivered for undisclosed purposes.
The organization spent $63 million on the planes, but it never got to use them because "mission requirements changed." In a bid to not let them go to waste, the Command decided to hand over the planes to the United States Air Force Test Pilot School.
The School announced at the end of last week the three A-29 Super Tucano planes have already arrived at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, where they will join the fleet of trainers already in operation. The moment is incredibly important for the school, as this is the first time in 30 years it has received newly assigned aircraft.
The School says the way the Super Tuscano's air frames are built allow them to be used for spin testing. Also, the fact they have modern avionics and the ability to carry a variety of payloads on wing pylons make them ideal for pilots that are learning the ropes, and will open the doors for the Air Force to experiment with various multi-domain sensors and weapons. This, in turn, will likely reduce the reliance on the aging T-38 and F-16 planes currently in use.
The deployment of the planes in the hands of American aviators is expected to greatly increase the pedigree of the plane. To date, says Embraer, all of the A-29 Super Tucanos currently flying have clocked a combined 550,000 flight hours, over ten percent of them (60,000 flight hours) during combat missions.
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