In 1975, Embraer began development of a family of three derivatives of its
Bandeirante airliner, all of which were to feature a pressurised fuselage and
T-tail. The smallest of the three, and the first to be launched, was the EMB-121 Xingu, designed to carry six passengers in a typical layout, with a maximum of nine passengers carried. The Xingu is a low-winged cantilever
monoplane with a retractable tricycle undercarriage and a circular section fuselage. Its wing is based on that used by the Bandeirante, but with reduced wingspan. Like the Bandeirante, it is powered by two
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A
turboprop engines. The first production aircraft made its maiden flight on 20 May 1977, and was exhibited at that year's
Paris Air Show. The Xingu received its Brazilian
type certificate in May 1977, followed by certification by the British
Civil Aviation Authority in July that year. Development of the Xingu III had been abandoned by 1984. It replaced the original version in production after 29 had been built. Xingu Is could be modified to Xingu II standard, and that option was taken by several operators. Production of the Xingu continued to 1987, with a total of 106 Xingus being built. ==Service==