Smoke Squadron

Smoke Squadron
Smoke Squadron
Esquadrilha da Fumaça
	Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano

The Aerial Demonstration Squadron (Portuguese: Esquadrão de Demonstração Aérea, EDA), popularly known as Smoke Squadron (Portuguese: Esquadrilha da Fumaça) is the Brazilian Air Force's air demonstration squadron. It is headquartered at the Brazilian Air Force Academy in Pirassununga, São Paulo.

History

Its first display was on 14 May 1952 over Copacabana beach, using the

Aérospatiale (Fouga) CM.170-2 Super Magister jet, called T-24 in FAB

service. However, this model proved unsuitable to Brazilian conditions and, in 1972, the squadron reverted to the T-6, which was used until 1977.

The EDA was disbanded in 1977, but reformed on 8 December 1983 using

Embraer EMB-312 Tucano

turboprop trainer. At the time the EDA's aircraft were painted a bright red scheme, which has since been superseded by the current gloss blue.

Objectives

The stated objective of the Smoke Squadron are:

Brazilian Independence Day

celebrations

To bring together civilian and military aeronautical communities
To contribute towards a better integration between the Air Force and the other Armed Forces
To represent the Brazilian Air Force in Brazil and abroad
To encourage youngsters to take up civilian and military aeronautical careers
To show the quality of the Brazilian aerospace industry
To show the capabilities of the Brazilian Air Force crews.

Aircraft

The aircraft used by the EDA have been, in chronological order:

North American T-6 Texan for 1225 displays;
Aérospatiale (Fouga) CM.170-2 Super Magister
for 46 displays;
Neiva T-25 Universal for 55 displays;
Embraer EMB-312 Tucano
with more than 2000 displays as of 2010;
Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, being the two first ones delivered on September 30, 2012. In the subsequent two years, Super Tucanos have replaced the Tucano in the Smoke Squadron ^[3]