Embraer EMB 121 Xingu

The Embraer EMB 121 Xingu (pronounced "shingoo") is a twin-turboprop fixed-wing aircraft built by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer. The design of this plane is based on the EMB 110 Bandeirante, using its wing and engine design merged with an all-new fuselage. The EMB 121 first flew on October 10th, 1976.

A modified form of the EMB 121, the EMB 121A1 Xingu II, was introduced on September 4th, 1981 with a more powerful engine (PT6A-135), increased seating (8 or 9 passengers) and a larger fuel capacity.

Before production ceased in August 1987, Embraer had produced 106 EMB 121 aircraft, 51 of which were exported to countries outside Brazil. Currently, the French Air Force is the largest operator with 23 aircraft still in service.

Variants

 * EMB 121A Xingu I: Initial production version, powered by two 680 shp (510 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 engines.
 * EMB 121A1 Xingu II: Revised production version, powered by 750 shp (560 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135 engines.
 * EMB 121B Xingu III: Projected stretched development, single prototype converted, but no production, powered by 850 shp (630 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 engines.
 * EMB 123 Tapajós: Initially proposed 10-seat derivative with new wings and powered by 1,120 shp (840 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45 engines. It was abandoned in favor of the simpler Xingu III.
 * EMB 120 Araguaia: 20-24 seat version, with same wings and engine as EMB 123, but stretched fuselage. Later developed into larger 30-seater Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, with much less commonality to EMB-121 than originally planned.
 * VU-9: Brazilian Air Force designation.

Users

 * Brazil
 * Brazilian Air Force
 * France
 * Armée de l'Air
 * Marine Nationale

Related Development

 * Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
 * Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia

Comparable Aircraft

 * Beechcraft King Air
 * Piper PA-31T Cheyenne
 * Fairchild-Swearingen Merlin