The Brazilian air force's Esquadrilha da Fumaça (Smoke Squadron) flight demonstration team is trading in its Embraer T-27 Tucanos for new generation A-29A/B Super Tucanos.
With a slightly revised colour scheme, the first newly painted aircraft was presented in public for the first time on 18 December.
The squadron received its first pair of two-seat A-29Bs in early October, allowing team members to convert to the type and explore new manoeuvres for inclusion in the display routine.
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Brazilian air force |
By March the unit will have its full complement of four A-29Bs and eight single-seat A-29As, with these intended to open its 2013 display season. Each aircraft will undergo weight reduction work that will include the removal of weapon systems and mission-specific equipment.
Re-equipping the team with the more powerful Super Tucano was examined and discarded two years ago, but again proposed and this time approved earlier in 2012, which is also the 60th anniversary of the unit.
The decision to field the new aircraft was primarily based on the ongoing programme to reduce the Brazilian air force's T-27 fleet.
Source: Flight International
