The route, from Santa Catarina to Goiás, is 636 miles, equivalent to almost 1,200 kilometers, and will take 1h20min
Air Force Agency – CECOMSAER, by Lieutenant Letícia Faria
Since the delivery of the new fighter aircraft units of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) began, in April 2022, the vectors took off from Navegantes Airport, in Santa Catarina (SC), and landed at the Gripen Flight Test Center, in Gavião Peixoto (SP). Now, and for the first time, the landing will be on a military base runway. The aircraft FAB 4105 and FAB 4106 took off at 1:18 pm on Tuesday (May 9), and landed at 2:40 pm at Anápolis Air Base (BAAN), in Goiás (GO).
The trip, from Santa Catarina to Goiás, was 636 miles long, equivalent to almost 1.2 thousand kilometers, and lasted about 1h20min of flight time. The aircraft were flown by the pilots of the Institute of Research and Flight Tests (IPEV), Lieutenant-Colonel Cristiano de Oliveira Peres, and Major Aviator Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos, who participated in training programs, including in Sweden, headquarters of Saab, the company that develops the Gripen.
Navegantes Operation
Saab embarked the aircraft on a ship, in Sweden, on April 17, and they arrived in Brazil only last Friday (05/05). They were taken off the ship during the morning at the Port of Navegantes and were transported to the city’s airport early Saturday morning (May 6). Parked in the hangar, the Gripen received the ejection seats and the survival kit, and were also prepared for fueling and start-up on the ground.
After all items were checked, the aircraft were authorized for takeoff. The mission, called Navegantes Operation, was coordinated by Aviator Colonel Leandro Barbosa Ferreira Pinto, from COPAC, who commented on the execution of the activity. “This was the fourth time that FAB and Saab carried out the mission to receive the Gripen in Brazil. We have the support of the local authorities, both civil and military, and the involvement of the population, who welcome us and accompany our work with great enthusiasm and respect, especially when we transport the aircraft through the streets of the city, from the Port to the Airport. With this, we fulfilled another stage of the F-X2 Project and we continue with our mission in favor of our country’s Air Defense”, he pointed out.
Teams from the Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE), the Combat Aircraft Program Coordinating Commission (COPAC), the Preparations Command (COMPREP), the Air Force Logistics Transportation Center (CTLA), the Air Force Intelligence Center (CIAER), the Aircraft Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA), and Saab took part in the Navegantes Operation. In addition, FAB was supported by the Military Police of Santa Catarina (PMSC); the Municipal Guard of Navegantes; the Fire Department of Santa Catarina (CBMSC); the Civil Police of Santa Catarina (PCSC); the City Hall of Navegantes, the Municipal Foundation for Surveillance and Traffic (NAVETRAN), and the Federal Revenue Service.
With the arrival of the two aircraft, FAB will now have six F-39 Gripen in its collection, out of the 36 that are part of the project.
Photos: Lieutenant Letícia Faria / CECOMSAER