Blackwater Buys Brazilian-Made Fighter Plane (your tax dollars at work)

[magbana]

Report: Blackwater buys Brazilian-made fighter plane
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June 2, 2008

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — A subsidiary of U.S. military security contractor Blackwater Worldwide has purchased a fighter plane from the Brazilian aviation company Embraer, a Brazilian newspaper reported Sunday.

The 314-B1 Super Tucano propeller-driven fighter — the same used by the Brazilian military — was bought for $4.5 million and delivered to EP Aviation at the end of February, according to the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper.

The report included the plane's registration number with the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency, and the FAA website confirmed it is registered by EP Aviation.

It was not clear if it was Embraer's first sale of a military-style aircraft to a private company. EP Aviation has 33 planes and helicopters registered with the FAA, according to the agency's website, only one of which is from Embraer.

Officials with Brazil's government and Embraer declined to comment on the Estado report. Phone calls to Blackwater were not returned.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Iraq | Embraer | Blackwater Worldwide | Estado de S. Paulo | Gary Jackson

The sale was apparently approved, the Estado report noted, by Brazil's president in a deal negotiated with the U.S. government.

Brazilian law prohibits the sale of arms to companies or for use in existing conflicts.

The newspaper reported that Blackwater president Gary Jackson said the plane would be used for training.

The plane sold to EP Aviation did not include the two .50-caliber machine guns normally attached to the wings.

Blackwater, the largest private security company in the world, has been under scrutiny as a U.S. federal grand jury investigates its involvement in the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians. Blackwater also is under investigation for possible weapons smuggling allegations — violations the company denies.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-06-01-blackwater-brazlian-fighter-plane_N.htm

[EFerrari]

1. Scahill was on Amy's show today and he talked a bit about BW

recruiting in Latin America.

And it hit me that it's likely they're on the Colombian borders, making trouble, too.

[Vogon_Glory]

2. I'm Surprised That Blackwater Hasn't Bought Any Hinds Yet

I'm surprised that Blackwater hasn't bought any MiG-23 Hind helicopters in their gunship configuration, although I suppose that's next unless Russia's Pooty-poot-poot objects. Not that Buckaroo Bush or Dead-Eye Dick would.

Maybe the Hinds are next.