US Air Force Divests Three A-29C Super Tucanos at Edwards

The US Air Force has divested three A-29C Super Tucanos assigned to the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. An Edwards base spokesperson said evaluation found the aircraft did not meet the school’s intended requirements.

Key details

• The Air Force is considering other options for spin training and instruction on mission systems.
• An Air Force Test Center notice dated October 29, 2026, proposed a sole-source agreement with Sierra Nevada Company for on-call maintenance and ground handling of the three aircraft.
• The notice described support work that excluded flight restoration and airworthiness recovery, and said the aircraft were not expected to return to flight for Air Force use.
• The aircraft were acquired for Air Force Special Operations Command’s Combat Aviation Advisor mission, later stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and transferred to Edwards in 2024.
• In March 2025, the Air Force awarded Sierra Nevada Company a contract for A-29C fleet sustainment at Edwards, with a maximum value of $13.1 million.

The Air Force’s March 2025 contract with Sierra Nevada Company for A-29C fleet sustainment at Edwards had a maximum value of $13.1 million.

Why it matters

The aircraft moved from a special operations advisory mission to the Test Pilot School before the Air Force decided they did not meet the school’s requirements. The Air Force is now considering other ways to provide spin training and mission-systems instruction.