First production T-6A Texan II delivered to USAF

First production T-6A Texan II delivered to USAF
http://defence-data.com/storypic/rantexan.jpg [not image]
8 March 2000

The first production T-6A Texan II has been delivered to the US Air Force's Air Education and Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas this week.

At Randolph, the first T-6A will begin a seven-month-long Mission Operational Test and Evaluation phase to ensure it meets both services' training requirements. During this phase, test pilots from the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Centre, AETC and the US Navy will put the aircraft through a wide range of training missions.



T-6A Texan II
In a few months, the 12th Flying Training Wing, also based at Randolph, will receive its first operational T-6A Texan II, which initially will be used to train instructor pilots, who, in turn, will teach student pilots the basic skills needed to fly many different Air Force and Navy aircraft.

Manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft Co., Wichita, Kan., the T-6A Texan II will eventually replace the Air Force's T-37B and the Navy's T-34C primary pilot training aircraft, which are 38 and 23 years old, respectively. The Air Force will buy 454 T-6As, while the Navy will buy 328 aircraft.

With its responsive handling characteristics, improved fuel use, increased bird strike protection, and shorter maintenance turnaround time, the T-6A Texan II is a significant improvement over current primary pilot training technologies, according to programme officials.

Designed as the trainer for the 21st century, the T-6A Texan II is part of a comprehensive upgrade of primary pilot training technologies for both services, first identified in a 1989 Department of Defense Trainer Aircraft Master Plan as the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System.

Raytheon Aircraft awarded largest military contract in its history

3 January 2002

Raytheon Aircraft has been awarded its largest military contract ever (a one-year contract with four one-year options) for the production of more than 230 T-6A Texan II aircraft, associated ground-based training devices and technical support. The one-year contract for 40 aircraft is valued at $193 million and when all options are exercised the total potential value will be approximately $1.22 billion.

"The T-6A Texan II is the best primary training aircraft in the world, and we'll be building it for many years to come,'' said Raytheon Aircraft Chairman & CEO Jim Schuster.

The Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) programme calls for nearly 800 aircraft through the year 2017. To date, the US Air Force and US Navy have ordered 168 aircraft. This most recent contract, with options, covers the production of an additional 234 aircraft and ground-based training devices through the years 2002-2006, with deliveries beginning in 2004. The total value of the acquisition programme to date, including options, is $2.1 billion.

"The services recognise that the T-6A Texan II brings enhanced safety, superior performance and significant cost savings over current training aircraft,'' Schuster said. "We anticipate many international customers will want to take advantage of the T-6A's qualities, including a secure, long-term production line.''

The US Air Force began training pilots in the T-6A at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia in October. In addition, the NATO Flying Training in Canada programme has ordered 24 T-6As and has been training pilots with the T-6A for more than a year. The Hellenic Air Force of Greece ordered 45 aircraft, of which 17 have been delivered.


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