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FLIGHT International, 7 March 1981 659 ~x> Other nations ARGENTINA Chincul Cherokee Arrow A military training version of the Cherokee Arrow, the Chincul aircraft first flew in January 1978. The aircraft has a more powerful engine (260 h.p. Lycoming AEIO-540), a new rearward-sliding canopy and the provision for an optional 7-62mm machine gun in the lower front fuselage and bombs or rockets on underwing pylons. FMA IA-58 Pucara Production of the IA-58A Pucara twin-turboprop counter- insurgency aircraft is underway against an Argentinian Air Force order for 60. A prototype improved IA-58B Pucara Bravo flew on May 15, 1979, and 40 have been ordered by the Air Force. The Pucara Bravo features a redesigned forward fuselage housing two 30mm Defa cannon (140 rounds per gun) in place of the IA-58A's twin 20mm His- pano cannon. The four 7-62mm machine guns are retained. Production of the IA-58A continues at two a month and manufacture of the IA-58B should begin this year. Customer: Argentina 100 (60 A, 40 B). FMA IA-63 Design of the IA-63 single, engined jet trainer is well advanced and the first of four prototypes should fly in late 1983. The Argentinian Air Force needs 80 to 100 aircraft to enter service from 1985. Dormer's design assistance is evident in the Alpha Jet- like layout of the IA-63. The shoulder- mounted wing has a supercritical sec- tion. Powerplant is either a Garrett AiBesearch TFE731-3 (3,7001b thrust) or a Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 (3,4001b thrust). IA-63 data: span 31ft 9in (9-7m), length 34ft llin (10-6m), height 12ft 3in (3-7m), wing area (gross) 163ft2 (151m2), take-off weight (clean) 7,5601b (3,430kg), max level speed (at altitude) Mach 0-73, range 540 n.m. (1,100km). Customer: Argentina up to 100 required. AUSTRALIA Government Aircraft Factories Nomad Missionmaster/Searchmaster Produc- tion of all Nomad variants continues at the rate of two a month, including specialised aeromedical, geophysical, floatplane and amphibian versions. Mis- sionmaster liaison/cargo aircraft can be based on the N22B or stretched N24A Nomad airframes. Two Search- master coastal surveillance versions are available; the Searchmaster B with 120°-scan Bendix radar and the Search- master L with 360°-scan Litton radar. The first L variant was delivered to the Australian Bureau of Customs in Feb- ruary last year. Latest Nomad improve- ments include introduction of the Alli- son 250 B17C turboprop with redesigned propeller reduction gearbox offering longer service life. GAF is developing water-methanol engine injection to improve emergency take-off power. Customers: Missionmaster: Australia 11; Papua New Guinea 5; Philippines 12. Searchmaster: Australia 3L (Customs), 5 B, 3 L (DoT); Indonesia 12 B, 6 L; Marshall Islands 2 B (Airline); Papua New Guinea 2 B. New jet trainer Government Aircraft Factories and Commonwealth Aircraft FMA's IA-63 trainer, scheduled to fly in 1983 Corporation are studying a jet trainer to replace Boyal Australian Air Force Macchi MB.326H basic/advanced trainers. BRAZIL Aerotec A-132 Uirapuru II Having built some 150 A-122 Uirapuru primary trainers, including 100 (designated T-23s) for the Brazilian Air Force, Aero- tec has developed an uprated, fully aerobatic version called the A-132 Uirapuru II. Two prototypes have been built and delivery of up to 100 aircraft to replace Brazilian T-23s should begin this year. Customers: Uirapuru: Bolivia 18; Brazil 100; Paraguay 8. Uirapuru 11: Brazil 100 required initially. Embraer EMB-110/111 Bandeirante Em- braer plans to build 73 Bandeirante light transports in 1981, for civil and military customers. The Brazilian Air Force operates utility/paradropping, liaison and aerial-photography versions of the EMB-110. The Air Force Coastal Command operates 12 EMB-111 mari- time-patrol variants with nose-mounted AIL Cutler-Hammer APS-128 search radar. Export customers operate both transport and patrol variants and Gabon will receive one EMB-111 this year. Customers: EMB-110: Brazil 106; Chile GAF Nomad Searchmaster 3; Gabon 3; Uruguay 5. EMB-111: Brazil 12; Chile 6; Gabon 1. Embraer EMB-121 Xingu France has selected the Xingu executive turboprop for Air Force and Navy multi-engine training and liaison duties. The Brazilian Air Force already operates six EMB-121s (designated VU-9s) as VIP transports. In 1979, Embraer began work on a stretched EMB-121B Xingu II with more powerful PT6A-42 turboprops. Deliveries are to begin this year. Embraer plans to build 22 Xingus in 1981. Customers: Brazil 6; France 35. Embraer EMB-326B Xavante Licence- production of the EMB-326GB light- attack version of the Aermacchi MB.326 jet trainer continues against a Brazilian Air Force order for 184. Aircraft have been exported to Paraguay and Togo. Customers: Brazil 184; Paraguay 9; Togo 6. Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia Being de- veloped for the commuter airliner market, the EMB-120 twin-turboprop 30-seat aircraft will be offered to mili- tary customers for maritime surveil- lance, rescue, paradropping and elec- tronic-intelligence duties. The first prototype is scheduled to fly in 1982 and deliveries will start in 1984. wSa^Sikiilsitrttkd,..
