Will Spotlight Plane At IDEF

Hoping to cash in on a potentially lucrative contract to replace the Turkish Air Force's aging Cessna T-37 "Tweety Bird" trainers, Embraer will place special emphasis on its Super Tucano turboprop trainer aircraft during this week's International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF), in Ankara, Turkey.

The Super Tucano is one of the contenders in the Turkish Basic Trainer Aircraft Program for replacing the T-37s. The Super Tucano is an evolution of the successful Tucano, which has some 650 units in service worldwide. Nearly 50 Super Tucanos are in service, today, in the Brazilian Air Force, and seven with the Colombian Air Force.

Embraer is proposing a long lasting partnership with the Turkish Air Force and the local industry by offering the most cost effective training solution currently available in the market, together with a comprehensive industrial compensation program, stated Luiz Carlos Aguiar, Embraer Executive Vice-President for the Defense and Government Market.

Recently, the Super Tucano was evaluated by a team from the TuAF and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) in a configuration quite similar to their requirements.

The Super Tucano avionics system sports an advanced cockpit interface, as well as a comprehensive synthetic training package, including a full weapons simulation mode. The aircraft also features a pressurized cockpit.

IDEF is a leading international defense show in the Turkey and Eurasia region. The trade fair is held by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence, at the Ankara Hippodrome. This year's show runs from May 22-25.

FMI: www.embraer.com, www.tuaf.mil.tr/EnglishDefault.aspx