The Dominican Air Force (FARD) showcased the first two light aircraft, of ten TP-75 Dulus to be locally assembled at the San Isidro Air Base, during the 27 February military parade events.
The Dominican Air Force (FARD) is using the light aircraft for training and reconnaissance missions. They are described as a mini-version of the well-known Embraer EMB312 Tucano.
The first two locally assembled TP-75s were delivered to the FARD in December 2023. Assembly time for one aircraft is about 2.000 man hours. The first two aircraft, with serials 7500 and 7501, will be followed by eight more, for the ten TP-75s.
The two airplanes participated in the demonstration part of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Dominican Air Force on 16 February 2024.
The two aircraft were officially handed over to President Luis Abinader on 9 December 2023 at the San Isidro Air Base in eastern Santo Domingo. The intention is for these to supplement the older ENAER T-35 Pillans, of which only three are still in active service with the FARD.
The Dulus TP-75 aircraft, very similar to the Tucanos, are the first aircraft of the Dominican Armed Forces to be assembled in the country.
The planes will be used for pilot training and patrolling in the border area. In addition, they will not carry weapons, only surveillance equipment.
Commander General Carlos R. Febrillet and the director of Operations of the Air Force of the Dominican Republic, Colonel Martínez Pérez, told Noticias SIN that so far there are seven aircraft of this type, of which two are in the testing phase, three are still in the assembly phase and two in the manufacturing process.
“The aircraft that are in flight are completing the mandatory test flight phase. They will be entering service soon,” said Colonel Martínez Pérez.
These planes, which were named in honor of the country’s national bird, the “palm cigua” of the species “Dulus Dominicus”, are manufactured by the Italian company Flying Legend, which specializes in the construction of replicas of aircraft, including the Tucano model.
According to Colonel Martínez Pérez, the base cost per aircraft is US$325,000.00 versus the T-35B, which cost US$475,000.00 when purchased in 1999.
The Dulus has a lower operating cost of US$60 per hour compared to US$500 per hour of the T-35B Pillan training aircraft.
The Dulus TP-75 has a 141 horsepower Rotax 915iS turbocharged engine and is equipped with two computers that regulate the engine parameters.
Dulus TP-75 has retractable gear, uses conventional fuel and has a flight time of five hours and 30 minutes. It can be equipped with external tanks to increase its autonomy to seven hours of flight, maintains a cruising speed of 150 knots and an operational ceiling of 12,000 feet. The turbocharged Rotax 915 iS engine with a four-blade propeller allows the aircraft to reach a speed of 287 km/h and a maximum range of 1,166 km.
Inside the aircraft is an integrated parachute for emergency situations. As part of its safety system, it has an audible alarm that warns the pilot when it is entering a loss of lift or is approaching the ground.
The TP-75 Dulus has the capacity to carry out instrument flights and night flights.
Colonel Martínez Perez says there are plans to acquire a drone version for fumigation and the AT-75 Dulus version with light weapons.
Read more:
Noticias SIN
Scramble
Flying Legend USA
29 February 2024