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BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE FAB * - BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE

21)NOORDUYN NORSEMAN UC 64


Total received: 17


Characteristics:


Manufacturer: Noorduyn Aviation Ltda - Canadá   


Weight: Empty 4,680 lbs. 


Max Takeoff 7,400 lbs.   


Wing Span: 51ft. 6in.  


Length: 32ft. 0 in.   


Height: 10ft. 3 in.   


Performance:   


Maximum Speed: 162 mph   


Cruising Speed: 148 mph 


Ceiling: 17,000 ft.  


Range: 1,550 miles.   


Armament: None


Category: Transport.   


Engines: Pratt & Whitney Wasp R-1340 AN-1 with 600 hp, Radial, 9 Cylinder.   


With the Brazilian involvement in World War II, the newly created Brazilian Air Force (FAB) could be re equipped using a $ 100 million credit line to acquire military equipment, access to modern tools and aircraft, these supplies arranged pursuant to the Leand Lease Agreement, previously agreed with the US Government. Among the many aircraft models that were sold, many of them transport aircraft. Among these, 17 new Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman version which were equipped with the most powerful Pratt & Whitney Wasp R-1340 NA 1 radial engines  at 600 hp.


Upon receipt at Noorduyn Aircraft Limited manufacturing facilities in the city of Ontario, Canada, the Norseman UC-64A aircraft already bearing Brazilian Air Force (FAB) markings and registered as FAB 01 through FAB 17 were flown by US airmen directly from Canada to the USAAC Air Base at Kelly Air Force Base located in the city of San Antonio, Texas, being arranged in four group of four planes each, the last with five aircraft between July 1944 and March 1945. Once at the base, the aircraft were inspected and officially incorporated into the FAB and delivered to Brazilian pilots and from there they flew to the Air Base at Campos dos Afonsos in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).


Again this process was divided into groups, being split between aircraft 44-35398 to 44-35401 (FAB 01/04), 44-70324 to 4470327 (FAB O5 / 08), 44-70397 to 44-70400 (FAB 9/012) and 44-70475 to 44-70479 (FAB 13/13). Upon thir arrival in Brazil, the aircraft were initially subordinated to the Air Routes Directorate (DRA), an organization created in 1942 to manage the National Air Mail. (CAN) and coordinate air traffic in general within the national territory.


In addition to being subordinate to the Air Routes Directorate (DRA), the Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman were employed by the 1st Troop Transport Group (1st GTT) and were also deployed as an organic aircraft for the Campo Grande Air Base, Recife Air Base and Natal Air Base. At the end of the 1950s, the Brazilian Air Force had in its inventory new aircraft dedicated to the missions of the National Air Mail, among them the Beechcraft C-45 with an operational profile superior to the UC-64A, and thus determined the gradual withdrawal of the model, until the middle of 1960 when the last cell was finally deactivated.


Brazilian Air Force operated  17 units  between 1944 and 1960.Tail #: 2795 to 2811. Designation: UC-64 e UC-64 A.   



UC 64 Noordwin seen date and location unknown. Photo. http://castropr.blogspot.com/



The versatile  Noordwin seen above. Photo http://castropr.blogspot.com/



UC 64 with its Air Force livery. Photo Marcius Cesar Costa


 

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