Tucano's Arrival

The Tucano left Italy on the 15th of May, docked on the 21st of May and was delivered to OHL International on the 24th of May

MSC_BELLATRIX & TUCANO

Crate at the freight depot

The container was made available to OHL by customs after throwing piles of money at the government for taxes, port charges and other assorted ransom fees. 

The box weighs 1.5 tonnes and there is about 300 kg of aircraft in there so this is one solid box. A 6-meter tilt tray truck has been ordered and will pick up the crate on the 3rd of June and deliver it to Rylstone on the same day.

Is the hanger ready - NO. Why - well that's another Maxi Shed saga. 

This company has created more frustration and extras beyond one's worst nightmares but push on we will. 

Its nothing more money cannot fix in the long run.......!!!!!

Tucano-R Panel

With the arrival of the kit at the end of the month and the hanger coming to an end it is time to do a little thinking how the aircraft is to be built. The Flying Legend Tucano-R is a 70% replica of the Tucano EMB 312 designed in the '80s and the question is "how far do you go to capture the feel and look of what attracted you to the airframe in the first place." 

I am attracted to the utilitarian look and feel of an all painted cockpit, bluntly I have never seen a carpeted and upholstered aircraft that look good to me with some hours on the meter.

Factory Tucano T1 Front Cockpit

The Sels Paul image in high resolution by clicking on the following link - CLICK HERE

Brazilian Flying Legend Cockpit

The cockpit of the Tucano-R captures the feel of the prototype so a panel that tries to achieve the same is a worthwhile effort. Flying Legend forwarded a DXF drawing file off the Tucano-R factory panel that allowed the creation of the panels layouts shown below.

The analogue panel layout is constrained by a current collection of instruments while an EFIS offers lighter weight and simplicity of installation. Examination of the costs has shown that are equivalent in cost so it's really a personal preference to a VFR private pilot. 

Analogue Panel

AV Map & GPS Panel

This panel arrangement above represents the upgraded panel fitted to the RS Warbirds Tucano T1 offered in the US private market.

RS Warbirds Tucano T1 upgraded panel

In the end its a personal choice.