Brazil Acquires ex-SAAF Impalas
Date: 1 April 2006
Acting on behalf of the Forca Aerea Brasileira (FAB - Brazilian Air Force), the Brazilian Government has purchased a small follow-on batch of former SAAF Atlas MB.326KC Impala MkII strike fighters and operational trainers. The deal gained official SAAF santion on December 5, 2005, and involved aircraft 1075 (with 1,955.6 total airframe hours), 1085 (2,375.8 hours) and 1094 (2,501.9 hours).
The urgently-needed aircraft were dismantled and made the trip to Brazil inside an FAB C-130 Hercules. Given that the FAB has never used single-seat MB.326s and the obvious commonality between the single and two-seaters, it would seem likely these latest acquisitions will also serve as a source of spare parts, as did the two MB.326KCs purchased in late 2004.
AirforceMonthly: April 2006
