Schweizer RU-38A Twin Condor
Schweizer Aircraft · United States · first flew 1997 · transport aircraft
The Schweizer RU-38A Twin Condor is a twin-engine, high-wing surveillance aircraft developed for the U.S. Air Force to support counter-narcotics operations in South America.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-boom high-wing surveillance aircraft for USAF drug interdiction
- Twin piston engines with twin-tail boom configuration
- Quiet, long-endurance ISR platform
A high-wing twin with twin tail booms and a pod-like central fuselage nacelle; the twin-boom tail and quiet turbocharged engines are distinctive.
Specifications
- The Schweizer RU-38A Twin Condor has a length of 11.35 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.73 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 276 km/h (171 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Schweizer developed the SA 2-37B (militarised as RU-38A) in the 1990s for quiet, long-endurance reconnaissance; the twin-boom layout accommodates a large sensor suite in the central nacelle. The USAF operated the type from Howard AFB in Panama for drug interdiction surveillance.
Variants
The RU-38A is the military designation; the civil SA 2-37B designation covers the same airframe under FAA certification.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the USAF for counter-narcotics ISR in Central and South America in the late 1990s and 2000s.
Related aircraft
- Schweizer RU-38 Twin Condor
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- Schweizer 330SP
- Schweizer SGS 2-8
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- Zeppelin NT
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