No one was injured when a U.S. Air Force A-29 Super Tucano crashed in suburban Georgia earlier this week. Air Force Public Affairs officials said both pilots safely ejected and were released from Clinch Memorial Hospital after evaluation. The single-engine turboprop attack aircraft was operated by the 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base to support training operations for the Afghan Air Force. The U.S. Air Force, which does not fly the A-29 in combat, uses the plane to provides close air support training to Afghan pilots who fly the A-29 for counter-insurgency operations. The Air Force has reported that the aircraft was on a routine training flight when it crashed, but details on the reason for the crash will likely not be released for several months after an investigation has been completed. Before taking on its current training mission, the 81st Fighter Squadron flew the A-10 Thunderbolt.
The Air Force is reportedly considering the acquisition of a light-attack aircraft fleet to provide close air support in uncontested environments at lower cost than the service’s jet-powered fleet. The A-29 Super Tucano, designed by Embraer in Brazil but manufactured by Sierra Nevada in the United States, would be one of the leading candidates for the role along with Beechcraft’s AT-6 and the IOMAX Archangel.
Photo credit: Valdosta Today
