T-6 Texan II

infobox Aircraft
name = T-6 Texan II

---

caption = A USAF T-6A Texan II out of Randolph Air Force Base
type = Trainer aircraft
manufacturer = Raytheon Aircraft Company Hawker Beechcraft
designer =
first flight =
introduction =
retired =
status =
primary user = United States Air Force
more users = United States Navy Canadian Forces Greek Air Force
produced = +435 [ [http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/military/t-6a/ HawkerBeechcraft Production] ]
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Pilatus PC-9
variants with their own articles =

The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company (now Hawker Beechcraft). It is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer (NFO) and Air Force Navigator / Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) training. It is replacing the Air Force's T-37B Tweet and the Navy's T-34C Turbo Mentor. The T-6A is also used as a basic trainer by the Canadian Forces (CT-156 Harvard II) and the Greek Air Force.

Design and development

The T-6 is a development of the Pilatus PC-9, modified significantly by Beechcraft in order to enter the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) competition in the 1990s. [http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/military/t-6a/not_pc_9.pdf Hawker Beechcraft - T-6 is not a PC-9] Article] A similar arrangement between Pilatus and British Aerospace had also been in place for an Royal Air Force competition in the 1980s, although this competition selected the Shorts Tucano. The aircraft was designated under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system and named for the decades-earlier T-6 Texan. The Beechcraft brand has since been purchased from Raytheon by Onex Corporation as Hawker Beechcraft. [ [http://biz.yahoo.com/ccn/070326/200703260380165001.html?.v=1 Biz Yahoo "Onex Acquires Hawker Beechcraft"] Article]

The Texan II is built by Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita, Kansas. Although the design is heavily based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 is a complete redesign from the ground up, and is considerably more sophisticated and powerful.

Operational history

T-6A

The T-6A was introduced to Moody Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base in 2000-2001, and the Air Force awarded the full rate T-6 production contract in December 2001. Laughlin Air Force Base began flying the T-6 in 2003 where it is now the primary basic trainer, having completely replaced the venerable T-37. Vance Air Force Base completed transitioning from the T-37 to the T-6 in 2006. That year, Columbus Air Force Base began its transition, and will retire its last T-37 in April 2008. T-37s are still in service at Sheppard Air Force Base, and are expected to retire in 2008.Fact|date=April 2007

The T-6A also replaced all T-34s at Naval Air Station Pensacola in early 2005. T-34s are still in service at NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Whiting Field as the primary trainer.

One Texan II costs approximately 6 million dollars. Almost a quarter of this cost goes into two advanced, highly reliable Martin-Baker ejection seats, which have the capability for zero-zero ejection. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/t-6.htm Global Security T-6 Texan] ]

T-6B

The T-6B variant of the Texan II was introduced in 2005. One of the most important features of the T-6B is its highly advanced, all-glass cockpit from CMC Electronics that includes a Head-Up Display (HUD), six Multi-function display (MFD) and Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS). [ [http://www.cmcelectronics.ca/En/Prodserv/Milav/milav_csi_cockpit4000_en.html?.v=1 CMC Electronics Cockpit 4000 for Turboprop and Jet Trainers] Article]

Both the Greek T-6A and the T-6B variants have the capability to carry and deploy munitions, including bombs, rockets, and wing-mountable guns. The T-6B also features additional onboard systems for combat training. The T-6B could be a versatile primary weapons trainer, or even an operational light attack aircraft, given its excellent handling characteristics and available excess thrust. According to Raytheon, the T-6B is now available for order, although a price has not been specified and no customers have been listed yet.Fact|date=June 2008

AT-6

The AT-6 is a follow-on to the T-6B. The aircraft includes the same HOTAS and digital display format as the T-6B, but is upgraded to include datalink and integrated electro-optical sensors along with several weapons configurations. cite web|url = https://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/military/at-6_ab/|title = Beechcraft AT-6|accessdate = 2008-10-04|last = Hawker Beechcraft Corporation|authorlink = |year = undated]

CT-156 Harvard II

The CT-156 Harvard II is a variant used for pilot instruction in the NFTC (NATO Flying Training in Canada) located at 15 Wing, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. cite web|url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/ct156/default_e.asp|title = CT-156 Harvard II|accessdate = 2008-06-25|last = Department of National Defence Public Affairs|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = March] They are leased to the Canadian Forces Air Command by the program's administrator, Bombardier. Cockpit layout, ejection protocols, and performance mimic the CT-155 Hawk jet trainer also used by the NTFC. The NFTC has 24 Harvard II aircraft owned and maintained by Bombardier.

Variants

;T-6A Texan II :;T-6B Texan II :;CT-156 Harvard II :

Operators

;CAN
* Canadian Forces;GRE
* Greek Air Force;USA
* United States Air Force
* United States Navy

Incidents

* Two Columbus Air Force Base T-6 Texan II primary trainers collided about 12:47 p.m. Nov. 28, 2007 near the Columbus AFB Auxiliary airfield in Shuqualak, Miss. At the time of the accident, the aircraft were conducting initial flight training operations. On-scene emergency response located and confirmed all four pilots had parachuted safely. [ cite web|url = http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123077354 |title = T-6 Texan IIs collide|accessdate = 2007-11-28|last = Air Force Link|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = November]

pecifications (T-6A)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=2, tandem seating
span main=33 ft 5 in
span alt=10.2 m
length main=33 ft 4 in
length alt=10.2 m
height main=10 ft 8 in
height alt=3.3 m
area main=
area alt=
empty weight main=4,900 lb
empty weight alt=2,087 kg
loaded weight main=6,550 lb
loaded weight alt=2,971 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=6,500 lb
max takeoff weight alt=2,958 kg
engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68
type of prop=turboprop
number of props=1
power main=1,100 shp
power alt=820 kW
max speed main=316 kts IAS
max speed alt=Mach 0.67 at high altitude, 585 km/h
range main=850 nm
range alt=1,575 km
ceiling main=31,000 ft
ceiling alt=9,448 m
climb rate main=4,500 ft/min
climb rate alt=1,372 m/min
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Pilatus PC-9
* Pilatus PC-21
similar aircraft=
* Aermacchi M-290 RediGO
* Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano
* PZL-130 Orlik
* Short Tucano
* T-37 Tweet
lists=
* List of active Canadian military aircraft
see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/military/t-6a/ T-6 information on the Hawker Beechcraft website] Accessed 5 Oct 2007
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/ct156/default_e.asp Canadian Forces Air Command CT-156 page]