The inhabitants of Campo Grande (MS) have followed unusual movement in the city’s skies: since June 13, the KC-390 transport/tanker aircraft is deployed at the city’s airbase for a trials campaign that will continue until July 9. One of the most eagerly anticipated tests, the first drop of paratroopers, took place on June 21 and was considered a success by those involved.

“There were major concerns about the paratroopers’ exit from the fuselage because there is an aerodynamic flow around a new airframe. Fortunately, the feedback we received from the military was very positive, they reported that the exit was very smooth,” said Colonel Claudio Evangelista, the Força Aérea Brasileira’s (FAB) Technical Manager of the KC-390 programme.

The first paratrooper to jump out of the KC-390 was the Commander of the Airborne Rescue Squadron (EAS), known as PARASAR, Major Anderson Oliveira Schiavo. With him, 17 other military personnel of the Brazilian Air Force and Brazilian Army performed a free-fall jump from 12,000 feet (over 3.5 km), using both the rear ramp and the side doors to exit the fuselage. During the next few days, hooked jump tests will take place.