Blackwater Buys Brazilian Bombers-(mercenaries)

strategy page ^ | August 27, 2007 | strategy page

[Flavius]

Security company Blackwater U.S.A. is buying Super Tucano light combat aircraft from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. These five ton, single engine, single seat aircraft are built for pilot training, but also perform quite well for counter-insurgency work.

[Flavius]

so this is a mercenary army then

[NorCoGOP]

These days, it's hard to believe there are still "military" aircraft that start up with the age-old cry of "contact"!

And...can be shot down with a BB gun....

[SevenMinusOne]

A needed asset for BW - BW has used their little birds (helos) extremely effectively in Iraq -

[Yo-Yo]

How many seats?

[SunStar]

so this is a mercenary army then

Yes, a private army based out of the United States with a declared loyalty to our nation and it's national interests.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

It says one seat but photo shows two. LOL

[Stonewall Jackson]

Actually, the Tucano is one of the best observation aircraft on the market. It has the ability to fly a long time at relatively slow speeds, to allow the crew to utilize the great bubble canopy (which gives them an excellent view of what is below them) to look for targets on the ground.

It has been put to good use by Brazil and Columbia, hunting down drug farms and factories hidden deep in the jungle, and it can carry a whole heck of a lot of firepower.

[Yo-Yo]

Yeah, I know. I was just being a smart a$$. They can be ordered either way.

These are great for border patrol and interdiction of light civilian aircraft of the type used for drug smugglers. They are also great for attacking lightly armed ground targets.

[cripplecreek]

Seems like slow and low would work well over jungle.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I looked them up and mostly single seaters.

[traumer]

Looks like Spitfire...

[inkling]

I never realized Embraer was Brazilian. Guess that explains the G-string on the tail...

[ozzymandus]

I’d like to see you shooting at one of those things with a BB gun, while I watched from a safe distance.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Peruvian Tucano T-27 shooting down drug smugglers over the jungle. (Or was that missionaries?,:-0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHDZqUa0m1s

[Drew68]

so this is a mercenary army then

You know? If I was serving in the military in any sort of special forces type unit, say, Army Ranger, Navy Seal, etc., I think I'd say "Screw re-enlisting!" and go work for Blackwater. Same type of work, much higher pay, no military bureaucratic BS. And you could grow your hair long!

I wonder how many guys are doing exactly this?

[rottndog]

[PAR35]

Bomber?

[diogenes ghost]

In May '07, Blackwater bought three used Merlin IIIC's

They also have 2 369FF's and recently had a 369F destroyed.

[beelzepug]

A lot of the benefits of the old Skyraider but I’m sure it can’t come close to hauling the ordnance load of a “Sandy”. I bet it’s a lot quieter, though.

[elpadre]

In Korea 52-53, the old T-6 trainer was effectively used for close support and yes they came home with bullet holes. had privilege of riding twice to adjust some artillery fire - preferred the OP on ground.