EMB 312F Tucano
Embraer / SOCATA · France · first flew 1993 · light aircraft
The EMB 312F is the French Air Force variant of Brazil's Embraer Tucano trainer, re-engined with a Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprop to meet French requirements.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.86 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tandem two-seat cockpit with rounded canopy
- Low tapered wing with tip tanks standard fit
- Wider-chord cowling than standard Tucano for the Astazou engine
Compared to the standard Tucano the 312F has a slightly more bulbous cowling housing the larger Astazou; otherwise the tandem bubble canopy, low tapered wing and T-like tail profile are shared across the Tucano family.
Specifications
- The EMB 312F Tucano has a length of 9.86 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.14 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 458 km/h (285 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (tandem).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
France selected the Tucano to replace its Fouga Magisters and Mudry CAP 10s in the advanced trainer role, but required a more powerful engine than the standard Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A. SOCATA at Tarbes undertook final assembly and integration of the Astazou, with the first French aircraft flying in 1993. Eighty EMB 312Fs were eventually delivered to the Armée de l'Air.
Variants
The EMB 312F differs from the standard Tucano in its Astazou XVIG engine producing 1,000 shp versus the PT6A's 750 shp, a revised cowling, and French-specified avionics. The British Shorts Tucano is a separate, more extensively modified development.
Where you'll see it
The EMB 312F served with the French Air Force at Cognac-Châteaubernard for pilot selection and basic jet-conversion training well into the 2000s before being supplemented by the TBM 700 and Pilatus PC-21.
Related aircraft
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