Aerotec Uirapuru

A-122 Uirapuru
T-23A Uirapuru.
Role	Primary Trainer
National origin	Brazil
Manufacturer	Aerotec
First flight	2 June 1965
Produced	1968-1977
Number built	155

The Aerotec A-122 Uirapuru was a Brazilian military trainer aircraft. It was a low-wing monoplane with tricycle undercarriage that accommodated the pilot and instructor side-by-side. It first flew on 2 June 1965.^[1]

In October 1967, the Brazilian Air Force ordered 30 aircraft to replace the obsolete Fokker S.11s and S.12s (T-21s and T-22s) that were operating in the Air Force Academy.^[2] Later, they ordered another 40, and then 30 more. These were designated T-23.

The Bolivian Air Force ordered 36 examples in 1974, which flew until 1997, and in 1975 the Paraguayan Air Force bought 8 aircraft to replace the Fokker T-21 (S.11). In 1986, six more were donated by the FAB. Most of them were withdrawn from service in 1992, replaced by the Enaer T-35 Pillán. As of 2009, only one T-23 is in flying conditions. Thirty others were sold in the civilian market. A total of 155 were built including prototypes by the time production finished in 1977.^[3]

The T-23 suffered fatal accidents during spin training. The problem was resolved after a crash in which an instructor described his stricken aircraft's responses to his control inputs all the way to the end. Uirapurus then received a fin under the rear fuselage to correct the issue.

In 1980 interest by the airforce in an improved version led to the development of the Uirapuru II.

Variants

• A-122A Uirapuru - T-23 - Military trainer
• A-122B Uirapuru - Civil version^[4]
• A-122C Uirapuru - T-23C
• A-132 Uirapuru II - enlarged version with improved canopy and larger vertical tail surfaces.^[4]

Operators

 Brazil

• Brazilian Air Force

 Bolivia

• Bolivian Air Force - 18 A-122A purchased in 1974.^[5]

 Paraguay

• Paraguayan Air Force - 14 aircraft (8 in 1975 and 6 in 1986)
• Escuela Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil - 1 aircraft (early 70s)

Specifications (T-23)

A-122A(Military) A-122C(civil)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971-72 ^[6]

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 8.50 m (27 ft 10¾ in)
• Height: 2.70 m (21 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 13.50 m² (145.3 ft²)
• Airfoil: NACA 43013
• Empty weight: 540 kg (1,191 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 840 kg (1,825 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320-B2B 4-cylinder horizontally opposed air cooled, 119 kW (160 hp)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 307 km/h (165 knots, 190 mph)
• Maximum speed: 225 km/h (122 knots, 140 mph)
• Cruise speed: 185 km/h (100 knots, 115 mph)
• Stall speed: 88 km/h (48 knots, 55 mph)
• Range: 800 km (429 nm, 495 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4,500 m (17,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.0 m/s (787 ft/min)
  
• Endurance: 4 hours

See also

Related development

• Aerotec A-132 Tangará

References

Notes

1. Pereira 1977, p.13.
2. Pereira 1977, p. 13-14.
3. J W R Taylor 1980, p.10.
4. Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 39.
5. Siegrist 1987, p. 194.
6. J W R Taylor 1971,p.10.

Bibliography

• Pereira, Roberto (July 1977). "Songbird of the Amazon". Air International. Vol. 13 no. 1. pp. 13–17.
• Siegrist, Martin (October 1987). "Bolivian Air Power — 70 Years On". Air International. Vol. 33 no. 4. pp. 170–176, 194. ISSN 0306-5634.
• Taylor, John W.R. (editor) (1971). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971-72. London: Sampson Low. ISBN 0-354-00094-2.
• Taylor, John W R (ed.) (1980). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980-81. London: Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0-7106-7105-9.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 39.

External links

Media related to Aerotec A-122 Uirapuru at Wikimedia Commons