Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:28 am
#1718615
The BBC report that the Tucano is soon to be retired: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-y ... e-49579220
I'm sure there are still some people who will say "good" but I have a different view. I was on the MOD(PE) Tucano desk in 1988-91 and, for what was being paid (£1.25M each IIRC) the RAF got a bargain. The performance was excellent compared to the Jet Provost and from the safety point of view, while the JP fleet used to lose an aircraft or two each year in the 60s and 70s, the Tucano fleet lost only 5 aircraft (of 130) in 30 years service.
There was a saying within MOD(PE) that "Embraer designed a Skoda, the RAF are paying for a Ford, they are getting a Jaguar and they want a Rolls-Royce". (No disrespect to Skoda, but they weren't as good in the 80s as they are now.)
I guess that a few more will now be released from store to anyone who wants to fly one as a civilian aircraft.
I'm sure there are still some people who will say "good" but I have a different view. I was on the MOD(PE) Tucano desk in 1988-91 and, for what was being paid (£1.25M each IIRC) the RAF got a bargain. The performance was excellent compared to the Jet Provost and from the safety point of view, while the JP fleet used to lose an aircraft or two each year in the 60s and 70s, the Tucano fleet lost only 5 aircraft (of 130) in 30 years service.
There was a saying within MOD(PE) that "Embraer designed a Skoda, the RAF are paying for a Ford, they are getting a Jaguar and they want a Rolls-Royce". (No disrespect to Skoda, but they weren't as good in the 80s as they are now.)
I guess that a few more will now be released from store to anyone who wants to fly one as a civilian aircraft.