Smoke Squadron

The Aerial Demonstration Squadron (Esquadrão de Demonstração Aérea), popularly known as Smoke Squadron (Portuguese: Esquadrilha da Fumaça) is the Brazilian Air Force's air demonstration squadron. Its first display was on 14 May 1952 over Copacabana beach, using the North American T-6 Texan. The team used the T-6 from its formation until 1968, when it switched to the French Aérospatiale (Fouga) CM.170-2 Super Magister jet, called T-24 in FAB service. However, this model proved unsuitable to Brazilian conditions and, in 1972, the squadron reverted to the T-6, which was used until 1977.

The EDA was disbanded in 1977, but reformed on 8 December 1983 using Neiva T-25 Universal piston-powered aircraft, soon to be replaced by the then-new Embraer EMB-312 Tucano turboprop trainer. At the time the EDA's aircraft were painted a bright red scheme, which has since been superseded by the current gloss blue.

Aircraft
The aircraft used by the EDA have been, in chronological order:
 * North American T-6 Texan for 1225 displays;
 * Aérospatiale (Fouga) CM.170-2 Super Magister for 46 displays;
 * Neiva T-25 Universal for 55 displays;
 * Embraer EMB-312 Tucano with more than 2000 displays as of 2010;
 * Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, being the two first ones delivered on September 30, 2012. In two next years, Super Tucano will replace Tucano at Smoke Squadron

Objectives

 * To bring together civilian and military aeronautical communities
 * To contribute towards a better integration between the Air Force and the other Armed Forces
 * To represent the Brazilian Air Force in Brazil and abroad
 * To encourage youngsters to take up civilian and military aeronautical careers
 * To show the quality of the Brazilian aerospace industry
 * To show the capabilities of the Brazilian Air Force crews.