Regente

The Neiva Regente, developed in the late 1960s by the Brazilian company Indústria Aeronáutica Neiva, was intended as a versatile, low‑cost aircraft for both civil and military use. Its first flight took place in 1971, and series production began shortly thereafter, with a total of roughly 140 airframes completed before manufacturing shifted to the larger Embraer complex in the early 1980s. The Regente is a high‑wing, single‑engine monoplane powered by a 210 hp Lycoming O‑360‑A1A, featuring a semi‑monocoque fuselage, fixed tricycle landing gear and a spacious cabin that can accommodate four occupants or a variety of cargo configurations. Simple, robust construction and relatively forgiving flight characteristics made it popular with flight schools, aero‑clubs, and the Brazilian Air Force, which employed the type for liaison, observation and pilot‑training missions under the designation T-25A. Its ease of maintenance and inexpensive operating costs set a benchmark for regional utility aircraft in South America, influencing later designs such as the EMB‑710 Caurá. Though production ended decades ago, the Regente remains a symbol of Brazil’s emergence as a self‑sufficient aircraft manufacturer and continues to serve enthusiast pilots in the secondary market.