T-45 Goshawk

Infobox Aircraft
name=T-45 Goshawk


caption=The T-45A in flight
type=Naval trainer aircraft
manufacturers=McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace
Boeing/BAE Systems
designer=
first flight = April 16 1988
introduced = 1991
retired =
status =
primary user = United States Navy
more users =
produced =
number built =207 as of 2008 [ [http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q1/080212c_nr.html "Boeing-built U.S. Navy T-45 Jet Trainer Achieves 800,000 Flight-Hours of Service"] , Boeing, 12 February 2008.]
unit cost =
developed from = BAE Hawk
variants with their own articles =

The T-45 Goshawk is a highly modified version of the BAE Hawk land-based training jet aircraft. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) and British Aerospace (now BAE Systems), the T-45 is used by the United States Navy as an aircraft carrier-capable trainer.

Design and development

The T-45 Goshawk is a fully carrier-capable version of the Hawk Mk.60.Donald, David: "Warplanes of the Fleet", page 175. AIRtime Publishing Inc, 2004. ISBN 1-880588-81-1] Frawley, Gerard: "The International Directiory of Military Aircraft", page 48. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2] It was developed for the United States Navy (USN) for use in training.

The Goshawk's origins began in the mid-1970s, when the US Navy began looking for replacement for its T-2 and TA-4 trainers.Goebel, Greg, [http://www.vectorsite.net/avhawk.html#m4 "T-45 Goshawk"] , VectorSite.net, 01 March 2006.] [http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/t45.htm T-45 history page] , US Navy, 16 November 2000.] The US Navy started the VTXTS advanced trainer program in 1978. British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas proposed a version of the Hawk and were awarded the T-45 contract in 1981. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/t-45.htm T-45 history on GlobalSecurity.org] ]

The Hawk had not been designed for carrier operations. Numerous modifications were required for Navy carrier use, including improvements to the low-speed handling characteristics and a reduction in the approach speed. Other changes were strengthened airframe,Frawley, Gerard: "The International Directory of Military Aircraft", Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2] more robust and wider landing gear with catapult attachment and an arresting hook. It features a two-wheel nose landing gear. [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=2000&ct=1 T-45A US Navy fact file] ] The Goshawk first flew in 1988 and became operational in 1991. BAE Systems manufactures the fuselage aft of the cockpit, the air inlets, the vertical stabilizer of the T-45 at Samlesbury, and the wings at Brough, England. Boeing manufactures the remainder of the aircraft and assembles them in St. Louis, Missouri.

On March 16, 2007 the 200th airframe was delivered to the US Navy. Their requirements call for 223 aircraft, and the T-45 service is slated to continue until at least 2035. [ [http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q1/070316a_nr.html "Boeing Delivers 200th T-45 Trainer to U.S. Navy"] , Boeing, March 16, 2007.]

Operational history

The T-45 has been used for intermediate and advanced portions of the Navy/Marine Corps strike pilot training program with Training Air Wing ONE at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi and Training Air Wing TWO at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. The T-45 replaced the T-2C Buckeye trainer and the TA-4J Skyhawk II trainer with an integrated training system that includes the T-45 Goshawk aircraft, operational and instrument flight simulators (OFT/IFT), academics, and training integration system support. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2008, the T-45 will also commence use in the advanced portion of Navy/Marine Corps Naval Flight Officer (NFO) training with Training Air Wing SIX at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

The T-45's A and C models are currently in operational use. The T-45A, which became operational in 1991, contains an analog cockpit design while the newer T-45C, which was first delivered in December 1997, features a new digital "glass cockpit" design. All T-45A aircraft will eventually be converted to a T-45C configuration under the T-45 Required Avionics Modernization Program (T-45 RAMP).

Variants

;T-45A:Two-seat basic and advanced jet trainer for the US Navy.

;T-45B:Proposed land-based version for the US Navy, which would have been basically a conventional Hawk with a USN cockpit and no carrier capability. The USN had wanted the T-45B to get an earlier training capability, but abandoned the idea in 1984 in favor of less-costly updates to the TA-4 and T-2.

;T-45C:Improved T-45A with glass cockpit, inertial navigation, and other improvements. Existing T-45As are being upgraded to the T-45C standard.

Operators

;USA
*United States Navy

pecifications (T-45A)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet

ref=The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003, Navy fact file

crew=2 (student, instructor)
length main= 39 ft 4 in
length alt= 11.99 m
span main= 30 ft 10 in
span alt= 9.39 m
height main= 13 ft 5 in
height alt= 4.08 m
area main= 190.1 ft²
area alt= 17.7 m²
empty weight main= 10,403 lb
empty weight alt= 4,460 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 14,081 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 6,387 kg

engine (jet)= Rolls-Royce Turbomeca F405-RR-401 (Adour)
type of jet= turbofan
number of jets= 1
thrust main= 5,527 lbf
thrust alt= 26 kN

max speed main= 560 kt, 645 mph, 1,038 km/h
max speed alt=
max speed more= at 8,000 ft
never exceed speed main=
range main= 700 nmi
range alt= 805 mi, 1288 km
ceiling main= 42,500 ft
ceiling alt= 12,950 m
climb rate main= 8,000 ft/min
climb rate alt= 40.6 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=

armament=
*Usually none. One hardpoint under each wing can be used to carry practice bomb racks, rocket pods, or fuel tanks.

ee also

aircontent
related=
* BAE Hawk

similar aircraft=
* T2V/T-1 SeaStar
* T-2 Buckeye
* TA-4F/J Skyhawk

lists=
* List of active United States military aircraft

see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=2000&ct=1 T-45 Goshawk US Navy fact file] and [http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/t45.htm T-45 US Navy history page]
* [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/t45/index.htm T-45 Goshawk page] and [http://www.boeing.com/history/mdc/goshawk.htm T-45 Goshawk history page on Boeing.com]
* [http://www.vectorsite.net/avhawk.html BAE Hawk at Greg Goebel's AIR VECTORS]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/t-45.htm T-45 Goshawk page on GlobalSecurity.org]
* [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/usa/boeing/t-45/T-45.htm Boeing/BAE SYSTEMS T-45 Goshawk page on Aeroflight.co.uk]
* [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/t45/ T-45A/C Goshawk page on Naval-Technology.com]
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/03/24/222378/us-navy-to-add-synthetic-radar-to-goshawk-eyes-t-45d.html US Navy to add synthetic radar to Goshawk, eyes T-45D] , Flightglobal.com