The ceremony took place on Monday (20/11) at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Pirassununga (SP).
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Flávia Rocha
Fundamental to the training of Brazilian Air Force (FAB) cadets, the T-27 Tucano aircraft completes four decades of operations in the FAB. The ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the T-27s at the Air Force Academy (AFA) was held on Monday (20/11) in Pirassununga (SP).
To celebrate the historic moment, one of the AFA’s aircraft received a special paint job that was presented to the public for the first time at the ceremony.
The T-27 Tucano with the paint commemorating 40 years of operation in the FAB was flown by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Brigadier Lieutenant Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, and the Head of the AFA’s Air Operations Division, Air Lieutenant Colonel Marcelo Guimarães Resende.
In a commemorative flight, the T-27 Tucano was escorted by aircraft from the Air Demonstration Fleet (EDA) – better known as the Esquadrilha da Fumaça, which has used the T-27 in its demonstrations for over three decades.
During the flight, Air Brigadier Damasceno commented via telephone on the experience of flying the honored aircraft. “It’s a great pleasure to be part of this moment, in this aircraft that trained a large part of our airmen, practically all of them. Flying this machine is a wonderful feeling. Congratulations to everyone. It’s a great pleasure. We’re all Air Force,” he said.
On his return from the memorable flight aboard the T-27, the Commander of the Air Force highlighted the historical relevance of the Tucano and his determination to be at the forefront of both doctrinal and technological innovations.
“Celebrating four decades of the entry of this Brazilian-made aircraft into our honoured Institution, recognizing that, now modernized, it will continue to play its fundamental role in the training of future Flying Officers, is a source of pride for our Air Force,” he said.
Pilots from past and present generations gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of this icon at the Air Force Academy.
The event was also attended by the Commander of Aerospace Operations (COMAE), General Hudson Costa Potiguara; the General Commander of Personnel (COMGEP), General Ricardo Reis Tavares; the General Director of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA), General Maurício Augusto Silveira de Medeiros, among other General Officers and guests.
Continuing the commemorative events, there was also the unveiling of the Symbolic Medal alluding to the 40 years of excellent service provided by the T-27 in the training of military pilots.
Embraer also paid tribute to the Air Force Command. In addition, the Air Force Academy presented a trophy to the active FAB pilot with the most flight hours (4,344 hours) in the T-27 Tucano: the General Commander of Personnel, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Ricardo Reis Tavares. “It’s a great surprise. It’s a thrill. My entire history in the FAB as an aviator was practically on the Tucano. So I have a great affection for this aircraft because I flew in the Air Force on Tucano wings for most of my flying hours,” celebrated the General Officer.
In his speech, the AFA Commander, Air Brigadier Marcello Lobão Schiavo, highlighted the aircraft’s evolution. “Today the ‘forty-year-old’ T-27 continues to grow stronger and more resilient, overcoming all challenges and bad weather. It remains an icon of the Brazilian aviation industry and a source of pride for the Air Force Academy, which has the privilege of training its pilots in one of the best training aircraft in the world, now modernized,” he said.
History
The result of a partnership between Embraer and the FAB in the 1980s, the Tucano arose from the FAB’s need to replace the old T-37 training aircraft, which was used for advanced pilot training at the Air Force Academy. Thus was born a machine with outstanding performance and international recognition.
The Embraer 312 Tucano is one of the best military trainers in the world and is a sales success, with 637 produced. It entered service in September 1983 with the FAB and has already been exported to various countries, such as Angola, Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, France, Honduras, England, Iran, Iraq, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela.
On September 29, 1983, the FAB took delivery of its first eight aircraft, numbered 1303 to 1310. The aircraft were distributed to the First Air Instruction Squadron, at AFA, and to the Air Demonstration Squadron, marking the reactivation of the Fleet. The first plane to land at AFA was FAB 1303, the first T-27 of the Brazilian Air Force. At the time, the pilots were Air Lieutenant Brigadier Délio Jardim de Mattos, Minister of Aeronautics at the time, and the then director of the CTA, Air Major Brigadier Lauro Ney Menezes.
Modernization of the T-27
In December 2021, a new era in the training of future FAB airmen began, with the delivery of the first modernized T-27 aircraft, equipped with an avionics system capable of preparing AFA cadets for the modern aircraft of all Air Force aviations, highlighting the high degree of competence and professionalism of the members of the Brazilian Air Force.
Photos: Lieutenant Inforzatto / AFA, Sergeant Viegas / CECOMSAER, Private João Oliveira / AFA and Private Adher / AFA – Video: Sergeant André Sousa / CECOMSAER *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI team ***