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The Tucano is a Brazilian design built under license by
Shorts of Belfast. The aircraft won a fly-off with the
Pilatus PC-9 which was being supported by BAe at the
time. Infact, the PC-9 was designed specifically for the
role. The Tucano is the RAF's basic training aircraft with the
intention of taking pilots from the piston engined DEFTS
Firefly and Grob Tutor T1 to the Hawk T1. The cockpit of
the Tucano therefore closely resembles a jet and is
designed so the turboprop trainer handles more closely to
a jet. The Tucano is a successful and well liked
aircraft in the RAF.
This year's display will be from 72(R)
Squadron, part of No 1 Flying Training School
based at RAF Linton on Ouse in south Yorkshire which
currently operate 74 examples of the Tucano.
The 2009 display pilot has
been announced as Flt Ly Mike Rutland, a former Harrier
GR7 and Tornado GR4 pilot.
Official
Website: http://www.raf.mod.uk/tucanodisplayteam
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