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Short Tucano



 
 
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Old February 21st 20, 05:03 PM posted to alt.binaries.pictures.aviation
Miloch
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Default Short Tucano

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Tucano

The Short Tucano is a two-seat turboprop basic trainer built by Short Brothers
in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a licence-built version of the Brazilian
Embraer EMB-312 Tucano.

On 14 February 1986, the prototype conducted its maiden flight in Brazil before
being delivered to Shorts to be used as a pattern aircraft and modified to meet
Royal Air Force (RAF) requirements and used for trials and demonstrations. The
first Short-assembled aircraft flew on 30 December 1986; deliveries to the RAF
commenced during June 1988. The final example of the type was completed in 1995.
Maintenance and support of the RAF's Tucano fleet was typically outsourced to
several private companies.

The RAF was the Tucano's primary operator, although export sales have been
achieved with the nations of Kenya and Kuwait. A handful have also been
purchased and piloted by private individuals. The potential arming of RAF
Tucanos to facilitate combat missions and be deployed overseas during War in
Afghanistan was at one point mooted. On 25 October 2019, the Tucano was
withdrawn from RAF service. It has been replaced by the winner of the UK
Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) programme, under which
civilian-registered Beechcraft T-6Cs have taken on its training duties.

Origins

Development of the Short Tucano commenced in May 1984, following an agreement
between Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and Northern Ireland aviation
firm Short Brothers to collaborate on a response to an outstanding British
requirement, which sought a replacement for the aging BAC Jet Provost basic
trainer for the Royal Air Force (RAF). For this purpose, the RAF had issued Air
Staff Target 412, defining the performance criteria it desire for a new
high-performance turboprop-powered basic trainer. A short list was compiled of
various aircraft that had been submitted in response; other than the Tucano, the
types considered were the Swiss Pilatus PC-9, the British NDN-1T
Turbo-Firecracker and the Australian Aircraft Consortium's (AAC) A.20 Wamira II.

During 1984, Embraer dispatched the seventh EMB-312 airframe off the production
line to Shorts, where it received numerous modifications in order to meet the
AST-412 requirements. During September 1984, this same aircraft was displayed at
the Farnborough Airshow; by this point, it had been equipped with an uprated
PT6A-25C2 engine and a ventral air brake, which reportedly enabled the Tucano to
achieve the required stall speed of 60 kn. However, tests undertaken at MOD
Boscombe Down later on that year indicated the need to re-engine the aircraft in
order to satisfy the RAF's requirement for time to height; accordingly, the
Garrett TPE331 was selected.

On 21 March 1985, the Short Tucano proposal was declared the winner of the
AST.412, receiving a contract worth £126 million for the provision of 130
aircraft, along with an option for a further 15; this option was never taken up.
The first flight of the prototype EMB-312G2, which was furnished with a
four-bladed Hartzell propeller and the Garrett TPE331-10 engine, took place in
Brazil on 14 February of the following year. Shortly afterwards, this aircraft
was disassembled and airlifted to Short's Belfast facility on 29 March 1986,
where it was reassembled and returned to the skies just ten days later. During
June of that year, the TPE331-10 engine was replaced by the improved TPE331-12B,
a major difference being the integration of an Electronic Engine Controller
(EEC) system.


Role
Trainer aircraft

National origin
United Kingdom

Manufacturer
Short Brothers

First flight
14 February 1986

Introduction
1989 (Royal Air Force)

Status
In active service

Primary users
Royal Air Force (Retired)
Kenya Air Force
Kuwait Air Force

Produced
1986–1995

Number built
160

Developed from
Embraer EMB-312 Tucano

During June 1988, the first Tucano deliveries were made to the RAF; induction of
the type commenced thereafter. The type has been principally operated by No. 1
Flying Training School, based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, where it has been used to
provide basic fast-jet flying training to RAF and RN student pilots, on 72
(Reserve) Squadron. Typically, student pilots would fly around 130 hours during
their training course on the Tucano before progressing to the jet-powered Hawk
T2 aircraft, based at RAF Valley.

The Short Tucano succeeded the BAC Jet Provost as the basic trainer for the RAF,
preparing the student pilots for progression to the Hawk T1 advanced trainer
aircraft. Following its introduction, the Tucano had reportedly proven to be
roughly 70% cheaper to operate than its predecessor. The Tucano's accident
record has also been remarkably better than other ab-initio training aircraft,
with only five aircraft written off with no fatalities in over 20 years.

In March 2007, while discussing the British military contribution to the War in
Afghanistan, the British Parliament discussed the concept of replacing the
region's detachment of RAF Harriers and Tornados, which were being used to
provide close air support to Allied forces, with a number of armed Short
Tucanos, which would be re-roled as a dedicated counter-insurgency asset. Such
use would have required extensive modifications to the RAF aircraft, as they
were not fitted with underwing hard points for mounting armaments and equipment
upon. Air Chief Marshal Stephen Dalton was dismissive of this suggested use of
the Tucano, stating that it would cost lives amongst those on the ground and
damage Britain's credibility and influence within the coalition forces in
Afghanistan, and criticising its lack of operational flexibility.

The RAF's Tucanos have been typically maintained by private companies, defence
firm VT Group operated one such support contract during the early 2010s. During
July 2008, the Tucano's envisioned retirement date was moved from 2010 to around
2010, although further extension seemed likely. At one point, Marshall Aerospace
were championing the concept of upgrading the Tucano fleet as an inexpensive
means of meeting the RAF's future basic trainer requirements; the prospective
upgrade would have been largely based around cockpit instrumentation
improvements as the airframes reportedly had around 8,000 flying hours
remaining; some aerodynamic refinements had also been mooted but were dismissed
as not being cost-effective.

Specifications (Tucano)

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 9.86 m (32 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 11.28 m (37 ft 0 in)
Height: 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 19.33 m2 (208.1 sq ft)
Airfoil: NACA 632A-415 (root), 63A-212 (tip)
Empty weight: 2,017 kg (4,447 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,275 kg (7,220 lb)
Fuel capacity: 724 L (159 imp gal; 191 US gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Garrett TPE331-12B turboprop, 820 kW (1,100 shp)
Propellers: 4-bladed Hartzell constant speed, fully feathering, reversible-pitch
propeller, 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) diameter

Performance
Maximum speed: 507 km/h (315 mph, 274 kn) at 3,000–4,600 m (10,000–15,000 ft)
Cruise speed: 407 km/h (253 mph, 220 kn) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft) (econ. cruise)
Stall speed: 80 km/h (50 mph, 43 kn) (flaps and gear down) (EAS)
Never exceed speed: 518 km/h (322 mph, 280 kn) (EAS)
Range: 1,665 km (1,035 mi, 899 nmi)
Endurance: 5 h 12 min
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (34,000 ft)
g limits: +7/-3.6
Rate of climb: 17.8 m/s (3,510 ft/min)
Takeoff run to 15 m (50 ft): 524 m (1,719 ft)
Landing run from 15 m (50 ft): 573 m (1,880 ft)

Armament

Provision for 1,000 lb (454 kg) of stores on four underwing hardpoints, but not
on RAF Tucanos




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