EMB 312 Tucano
Embraer · Brazil · first flew 1980 · light aircraft
A Brazilian tandem-seat turboprop basic trainer that became a major export success and the basis for the RAF's Shorts Tucano.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.89 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Long fully glazed tandem canopy running the cabin length
- Single turboprop with three-blade propeller
- Low straight-tapered wing with rounded tips
The full-length glazed canopy and rounded wingtips distinguish it. The British Tucano differs mainly in its more powerful engine and four-blade propeller.
Specifications
- The EMB 312 Tucano has a length of 9.89 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.14 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 448 km/h (278 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (instructor and student).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Embraer flew the EMB 312 in 1980 to replace the Brazilian Air Force's Cessna T-37s. Its long greenhouse canopy, ejection seats and turboprop gave good visibility and economy for basic training. Licence and export sales spread it across Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
Variants
Beyond the baseline EMB 312, Shorts built a substantially re-engined version for the RAF, and Embraer later developed the larger EMB 314 Super Tucano for light attack.
Where you'll see it
The RAF flew the Shorts-built Tucano T1, derived from this aircraft, as its standard basic fast-jet trainer at RAF Linton-on-Ouse from the late 1980s until retirement in 2019, when training moved to the Texan T1. The original EMB 312 itself served many overseas air forces.
Related aircraft
- T-27 Tucano
- Embraer EMB 720 Minuano
- Embraer EMB 111
- Embraer EMB 810D Seneca
- Arctic Aircraft Arctic Tern
- BN-2T Turbine Islander
- Diamond HK36 Super Dimona
- Dornier Do 128
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.