Shorts Tucano T.1
Shorts Brothers · UK · first flew 1986 · light aircraft
The Shorts Tucano T.1 is the Garrett TPE331-powered British development of the Embraer EMB-312, substantially re-engineered by Shorts Brothers to meet RAF requirements with a more powerful engine, stronger airframe, uprated ejection seats, and a redesigned cockpit — effectively a different aircraft in the same skin.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Ventral airbrake under the rear fuselage — not present on the standard EMB-312, and a consistent T.1 recognition cue from below |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Garrett TPE331-12B engine replacing the Brazilian PT6A-25C — straight-flow design with exhaust exiting at the rear of the nacelle (vs PT6A's reverse-flow front exhaust), giving a different cowling and exhaust profile
- Four-blade Hartzell propeller vs the EMB-312's three-blade prop — a reliable count-based identifier when static or at low speed
- Ventral airbrake under the rear fuselage — not present on the standard EMB-312, and a consistent T.1 recognition cue from below
Against the Embraer EMB-312: the Garrett TPE331's straight-flow exhaust exits at the rear of the nacelle (visible as side-mounted exhaust stubs aft of the cowling); the PT6A's reverse-flow exhaust exits at the front. The T.1 also has a four-blade vs three-blade prop and a ventral airbrake pod under the rear fuselage absent on the EMB-312. Canopy framing is reinforced on the T.1. Against the Grob Prefect (its replacement): the Prefect is piston-powered, has a pusher configuration, and is smaller overall.
Specifications
- The Shorts Tucano T.1 has a length of 9.86 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.14 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 500 km/h (311 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Shorts Brothers won the RAF contract in 1985 to supply a licence-built Tucano. The T.1 first flew 30 December 1986 and entered RAF service at 1 FTS Church Fenton in 1988. 130 were built. The Garrett TPE331-12B engine (858 kW / 1,151 shp — more than twice the PT6A-25C's output) required a redesigned nose and cowling and drove a four-blade propeller. The type replaced the Jet Provost as the RAF's advanced turboprop trainer and served at 1 FTS and 3 FTS at RAF Linton-on-Ouse until retirement in 2019.
Variants
No RAF sub-variants. Kenya received the EMB-312 rather than the T.1. The Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano is a separate and much larger aircraft.
Where you'll see it
RAF 1 FTS and 3 FTS, Linton-on-Ouse and Church Fenton, 1988–2019. Replaced by the Grob Prefect T.1. Several T.1s have entered the civil market post-retirement.
Related aircraft
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