Embraer EMB-312 Tucano

Basic Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft

Brazil | 1983

"The Embraer EMB-312 Tucano proved itself a modest success for the Brazilian company, finding favor with several notable operators worldwide."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/11/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted; RAF Short Tucano pictured.

Firepower

Performance

Survivability

Versatility

Impact

Brazilian defense industry suffers what most mid-sized military powers suffer - a heavy reliance on foreign products to satisfy local requirements. In recent decades, the South American nation has joined others like China, India and Turkey in nurturing local design, development and production of such systems to eliminate the need for foreign dependency. In 1969, this movement led to the formation of state-owned Embraer and the company began by producing the Italian Aermacchi MB-326 advanced jet trainer under license - this experience proved fruitful as it led to an expansion of capabilities for the brand which, today, includes production of indigenous light aircraft, large aircraft and business jets.

The EBM-312 "Tucano" would go on to become one of the company's greatest achievements on the global stage - its first true commercial success. The aircraft was backed by the Brazilian Air Force in a 1978 initiative which produced a prototype first-flight on August 16th, 1980. The versatile aircraft could be used in both basic training and light attack roles and the service liked what it saw to commit to a first-batch of 118 aircraft with an option for 50 further units. First deliveries commenced in September of 1983 and another ten aircraft were added in 1990 (the last forty of the original option was also eventually exercised).

At its core, the Tucano was built around proven qualities common to many basic trainers already on the world stage. A lightweight design was chosen that featured low-mounted, straight wing mainplanes, a nose-mounted engine, tandem seating under a long, unobstructed canopy and a traditional single-finned tail unit. The undercarriage was wholly retractable and of a tricycle arrangement. The compact aircraft proved robust enough to mount external munitions (or fuel tanks) under its wings for the training or attack roles.

Dimensions included a length of 32.3 feet, a wingspan of 36.5 feet and a height of 11 feet. Empty weight was 4,000lb against an MTOW of 7,000lb. Power was from a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop engine developing 750 horsepower and driving a three-bladed propeller unit at the nose. Performance specs included a maximum speed of 285 miles per hour, a range out to 1,200 miles, a service ceiling up to 28,700 feet and a rate-of-climb nearing 1,900 feet-per-minute.

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Globally, the Tucano went on to become a customer favorite as it was taken on by the air services of Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Honduras, Iran, Mauritania, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela (former operators include both France and Iraq). The Brazilian Air Force expects to withdraw and replace its fleet of Tucanos sometime in the early 2020s. Total production of Tucanos reached 624 units during the span of 1980 to 1996.

Variants of the line began with the base EMB-312A form and these followed the YT-27 pre-series aircraft. The T-27 was its basic trainer model and the AT-27 became the dedicated light attack form. The follow-up EMB-312F was a more powerful design developed specifically for the French Air Force. The EMB-312S became a local British-built version (known as the Short Tucano by Short Brothers) and was powered by a Honeywell TPE331-12B engine and fitted with minor improvements. The T.Mk 1 was ordered by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) while the Mk.51 was purchased by Kenya and the Mk.52 by Kuwait.

The EMB-312G1 existed as a prototype only and outfitted with a Garrett engine. Another abandoned effort was the EMB-312H sponsored by Northrop Grumman for possible sale to the USAF - it did not succeed.

The Embraer EMB-314 (A-29) "Super Tucano" is an advanced version of the original Tucano platform and has been developed as a basic trainer and attack / counter-insurgency aircraft. Over two-hundred of this variant have been built to date (2017) and a key operator is the rebuilding Afghanistan Air Force which has ordered 20 units. The Brazilian Air Force itself has a fleet of 99 of the type and the model is challenging the ongoing USAF basic trainer competition.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Embraer EMB-312 Tucano Basic Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft.

1 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop engine developing 750 horsepower.
Propulsion

286 mph
460 kph | 248 kts
Max Speed

28,707 ft
8,750 m | 5 miles
Service Ceiling

1,190 miles
1,915 km | 1,034 nm
Operational Range

1,900 ft/min
579 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Embraer EMB-312 Tucano Basic Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft.

2
(MANNED)
Crew

32.3 ft
9.85 m
O/A Length

36.6 ft
(11.15 m)
O/A Width

11.2 ft
(3.40 m)
O/A Height

3,990 lb
(1,810 kg)
Empty Weight

7,000 lb
(3,175 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Embraer EMB-312 Tucano Basic Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft .

Optional: Gun pods, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, practice bombs, and external (jettisonable) fuel tanks as needed across four underwing (two per wing) hardpoints.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Embraer EMB-312 Tucano family line.

EMB-312 "Tucano" - Base Series Designation

EMB-312A - Primary design model

YT-27 - Pre-series aircraft based on EMB-312A.

T-27 - Basic trainer variant based on EMB-312A.

AT-27 - Light attack variant based on EMB-312A.

EMB-312F - More powerful version developed for the French Air Force.

EMB-312S ("Short Tucano") - Improved model produced in Britain by Short Brothers; fitted with Honeywell TPE331-12B engine mated to a four-bladed propeller; other improvements fitted.

Tucano T.Mk 1 - RAF trainer mount

Tucano Mk.51 - Kenya Air Force designation

Tucano Mk.52 - Kuwait Air Force designation

EMB-312G-1 - Proposed model of 1986 fitted with Garrett engine.

EMB-312H - Proposed model intended for the USAF; sponsored stateside by Northrop Grumman; lengthened fuselage; more powerful engine; revised to become EMB-314 Super Tucano.

EMB-314 "Super Tucano" - Advanced, modernized training and attack platform.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Embraer EMB-312 Tucano. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 624 Units
Contractor(s): Embraer - Brazil

[ Angola; Argentina; Brazil; Colombia; Egypt; France; Honduras; Iraq; Iran; Mauritania; Paraguay; Peru; United Kingdom (Short Tucano); Venezuela ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 300mph

Lo: 150mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (286mph).

Graph Average of 225 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

624

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

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Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted; RAF Short Tucano pictured.

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to airborne requirements.

CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT

TRAINING

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
The Embraer EMB-312 Tucano Basic Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft appears in the following collections:

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