Additional Aircraft to Support Training Role

Despite being shrouded in secrecy, apparently for reasons of operational security, delivery of the first two (of six) new Embraer A314 SUPER TUCANOs (A-29) for the Chilean Air Force (FACh) was publicly noted during a recent technical stopover at Foz do Iguaçu International Airport in Brazil.

The group consisted of a single KC-130R HERCULES support aircraft and the two A-29s, registration numbers FACH 463 and 464. After the stopover, the group continued to Los Cóndores Air Base in Iquique, where they will join Aviation Group No. 1.

Los Cóndores is home to the 12 SUPER TUCANOs already in service with the FACh. Purchased in 2008 and delivered over the following two years, complete with a comprehensive ground-based training system for the type, the aircraft provide a seamless training pipeline between the elementary trainer (T-35 PILLAN) and the F-16.