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| Brazilian Air Force Finally Selects SkyCourier As A Replacement For C-95 Bandeirante Aircraft |
Brasilia - The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) selected a Cessna 408 SkyCourier as a replacement for its aging C-95 Banderirante aircraft. The Cessna 408 has been included in the list of joint procurement projects with the C-390 Millennium multimission transport aircraft and Saab Gripen fighter jets by the new Brazilian Ministry of Defence.
The procurement of the twin-engine turboprop aircraft is one of FAB's priorities, Brazilian Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro Filho said on Friday.
SkyCourier is a high-wing fixed-gear aircraft. The first units of this aircraft have been delivered by Textron Aviation (Cessna's parent company) last year to FedEx. The aircraft is capable of carrying 19 passengers or up to 2,720 kg of cargo.
Unlike the Bandeirante, whose wheels can be inserted into the body, the SkyCourier wheels remain outside (non-retractable landing gear). The C-95 Bandeirante has been in service with the FAB since the early 1970s.
Initially, the Air Force planned to develop a new utility aircraft in partnership with Embraer that would use hybrid propulsion, called the STOUT (Short Take Off Utility Transport) project. However the project was cancelled.