BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE FAB * - BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE
3)BEECH UC 43
Total received: 40
Manufacturer: Beech Aircraft Corp.
Length: 8,13m
Span: 9,75m
Height: 2,43m
Maximum Take-off weight: 1.927kg.
Engine : One radial Wright R-760-E2 with 350HP
Maximum speed: 297,8 km/h
Crew: 4
C 43 was the very first squadron to make the northern south Atlantic route with 6 aircraft which despite the natural dangers when flying over the Amazon region, managed to arrive in Rio, Afonsos Field on 31 Dec 41.
These first six aircraft were brought to serve the National Air Mail and they were parked at the ramp of Beechcraft factory at Wichita when the occasion of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During the year of 1942 9 more UC - 43 were brought to Brazil. In 1943 15 UC-43 were flown from Wichita to Brazil and in 1944 ten more planes were added to the Brazilian Air Force.
Above one UC 43 with the colors of Brazilian Navy. Photo http://www.armasnacionais.com/2017/10/beechcraft-model-d17a-staggerwing.html
This old bird is now in permanent display at the MUSAL. Museu Aeroespacial Brasil.
UC-43 assembly line at Beechcraft Wichita. Photo https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Beechcraft_Staggerwing_production_line.jpg
