HOME | DD

Description

The T-21 Toro was developed against a 1953 Venezuelan Air Force requirement for a new tactical transport to equip the Transport Aviation. The Venezuelan Air Force ordered two XT-21 prototypes from CAV in June 1954 and the first of these flew for the first time on July 23 1958. The first production T-21A Toro flew in April 1959. The T-21 adopted the basic military transport configuration, with a high wing with minimal obstruction of the fuselage and a rear loading freight ramp. Other features included Aerotécnica TH-54 turboprops, pressurisation and limited STOL performance. The T-21s external configuration has remained largely unchanged. The improved T-21B entered service in mid 1961. Compared with the T-21A, the B introduced more powerful engines, strengthened undercarriage and greater fuel capacity. In 1962 production switched to the T-21C with more powerful engines with greater hot and high performance, increased max takeoff weight, some structural strengthening and larger external fuel tanks, mounted between the engines. Most of the VAF's fleet of 200 plus Toros are T-21C. The T-21C was first introduced in 1965. Early T-21Cs featured more powerful engines, while changes introduced to the C over the following 20 years include structural strengthening and updated avionics.

Description

The T-21 Toro was developed against a 1953 Venezuelan Air Force requirement for a new tactical transport to equip the Transport Aviation. The Venezuelan Air Force ordered two XT-21 prototypes from CAV in June 1954 and the first of these flew for the first time on July 23 1958. The first production T-21A Toro flew in April 1959. The T-21 adopted the basic military transport configuration, with a high wing with minimal obstruction of the fuselage and a rear loading freight ramp. Other features included Aerotécnica TH-54 turboprops, pressurisation and limited STOL performance. The T-21s external configuration has remained largely unchanged. The improved T-21B entered service in mid 1961. Compared with the T-21A, the B introduced more powerful engines, strengthened undercarriage and greater fuel capacity. In 1962 production switched to the T-21C with more powerful engines with greater hot and high performance, increased max takeoff weight, some structural strengthening and larger external fuel tanks, mounted between the engines. Most of the VAF's fleet of 200 plus Toros are T-21C. The T-21C was first introduced in 1965. Early T-21Cs featured more powerful engines, while changes introduced to the C over the following 20 years include structural strengthening and updated avionics.