September 29, 1983 was marked in the history of Brazilian aviation. On this date, the first eight Embraer T-27 Tucano aircraft were delivered to the Brazilian Air Force. A sales success for the manufacturer, the T-27 reaches 40 years of service with the FAB while receiving extensive modernization.
The Tucano was developed by Embraer at the request of the air force itself, which needed a new aircraft to replace the T-37 Tweet trainers, of North American origin. Designated EMB-312 by Embraer, it received the name Tucano after a consultation with cadets at the Air Force Academy (AFA), who suggested a multitude of names.
The T-27 made its first flight on August 19, 1980, becoming the most modern trainer at the time. The turboprop brought innovations — such as the higher rear seat improving the instructor's view — and arrangement of instruments in the cockpit, more similar to that of fighter and attack aircraft of the time. Three years later, the FAB received the planes. ed 1303 to 1310, the Tucanos were delivered to Embraer headquarters, with six aircraft for the Smoke Squadron and two for AFA.
In addition to being used as an advanced instruction platform, the T-27 also received armaments to perform ground attack and air defense missions, redesignated as AT-27. Robust, versatile, cheap and easy to operate, the Tucano was also a sales success with exports to 17 countries, many of which still operate the model. It was also manufactured under license by British Shorts, which even reengineered the aircraft.
Responding to a North American tender and, again, needs from the Air Force, Embraer developed the ALX, also called Tucano JPATS, later renamed as A-29 (EMB-314) Super Tucano.
More modern, powerful and capable, the Super Tucano replaced the armed AT-27s of the Flecha, Grifo and Scorpion squadrons, as well as the AT-26 Xavante in the training of fighter pilots. Like its predecessor, it was also a sales success and today operates in 16 countries. In 2013, the Fumaça Squadron's T-27s also gave way to the A-29s, ending 30 years of aerial acrobatics.
T-27M
The T-27 remains in service with the AFA with the 1st Air Instruction Squadron, Cometa, where aviation cadets complete their flight training phase in the fourth and final year of the academy. To meet current needs, the FAB began modernizing the T-2019 fleet in 27.
The main difference is in the cockpit, which received multifunctional color displays instead of analogue dials. The livery has also changed: they now sport a digitized scheme in orange, black and white, again chosen (and designed) by the cadets themselves.
Under the command of Colonel Aviator Marcelo Zampier Bussmann from the Flight Research and Testing Institute, the first T-27M (Modernized) made its first flight on October 23, 2020. The first four modernized aircraft were delivered to AFA in December 2021 , marking a new phase in the training of military pilots in Brazil.
With information Rudnei Dias da Cunha e Air Force Academy.
