João Paulo Moralez tells the story of Embraer’s successor to the Tucano – the Super Tucano.
A logical development of Embraer’s EMB-312 Tucano, the EMB-314 Super Tucano shares its predecessor’s advanced trainer pedigree, but where the former could be equipped for a secondary armed role, the Super Tucano adds dedicated light attack to its capability. With both turboprops seating their crew on tandem ejection seats under a large canopy, the two aircraft are clearly from the same family line, yet beyond such basic similarities and a common wing design, they are quite different machines.
International operational experience gained with the Tucano through the 1980s and 1990s provided the roadmap for Super Tucano development. Embraer was far from alone in the turboprop trainer market and after Pilatus improved its PC-9, making it superior to the Tucano, the Brazilian manufacturer was eager not to lose ground in the market.
In 1985, work towards creating the Short Tucano against a significant UK order saw Embraer modify EMB-312 c/n 312.161, registered PT-ZTW, with a 1,100shp Garrett TPE331-12B engine driving a four-bladed Hartzell propeller. It also installed a dive brake, creating the EMB-312 G-1. The new va…
