Thailand receives first Two T-6C turboprop trainers

Thailand has taken delivery of its first Textron Aviation T-6C Texan II turboprop trainers, with the Southeast Asian nation planning to use them for training and as light-armed aircraft.

Two T-6Cs arrived at the Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF base Kamphaeng Saen northeast of the Thai capital Bangkok, with a welcoming ceremony. Thailand ordered 12 T-6Cs under a $162 million contract in 2020. They’ll replace Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainers that equip one of three squadrons with the RTAF’s flying training school at Kamphaeng Saen.

Mike Yeo- defensenews

 

13 hypoxia-like events in one week led to USAF T-6 fleet grounding

The 19th Air Force’s fleet of T-6 trainers were grounded after 13 unexplained events, such as hypoxia in a single week.
The bulk of the unexplained physiological events ― 10 of them ― occurred at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. Two other events occurred at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and another happened at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.
The unexplained events included conditions such as hypoxia, or too little oxygen in the body; hypocapnia, or too little carbon dioxide in the blood; and hypercapnia, or too much carbon dioxide in the blood.
airforcetimes

US cleared to complete T-6C sale to Argentina

A 30-day Congressional notification period has closed on a proposed sale of 24 Beechcraft T-6C Texan trainers to the Argentine air force, clearing the way for the US government and industry officials to complete negotiations on the estimated $300 million deal.
Coming only two months after the final delivery to the US Navy under the 20-year-old Joint Primary Aircraft Training Systems (JPATS) programme, the proposed T-6 sale to Buenos Aires offers a timely lifeline to the T-6C production line in Wichita, Kansas.
“We look forward to continuing our conversations with Argentina to offer the Beechcraft T-6C military trainer,” Beechcraft says.
By late June, Beechcraft had delivered more than 400 T-6 Texan IIs to the US Air Force and nearly 300 to the Navy, replacing an aging fleet of Cessna T-37s and Beechcraft T-34s. The company also has received a recent order from the UK Ministry of Defence to supply T-6 trainers for replacing Embraer Tucanos.
flightglobal

USA DSCA APPROVES T-6C DEAL FOR ARGENTINA

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $300 million foreign military sale to Argentina for T-6C Texan aircraft.
Buenos Aires requested 24 of the trainer aircraft, as well as spare engines, initial spare parts, support equipment, communications equipment, studies and surveys, contract logistics support and technical services, aircraft technical publications, aircraft ferry and support, life support equipment, initial maintenance training, initial pilot training, follow-on training, alternate mission equipment, Air Force Material Command services and travel, unclassified minor modifications and engineering change proposals, ground-based training system, operational flight trainer and operational flight trainer spare parts.
upi

UK Signs Major Deal for Military Aircraft, Training

A key part of a contractor-managed program to train future British military aircrew has finally fallen into place with the signing of a deal for a KBR-Elbit Systems joint venture to provide and support three new fixed-wing aircraft fleets as part of the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS).
The private finance initiative (PFI) signed with Ascent, the Lockheed Martin-Babcock joint venture, which runs the UKMFTS program, will see Affinity Flying Training Services procure, operate and maintain 10 Beechcraft Texan T-6C aircraft, and 23 Grob G120TP Prefect turboprops along with five Embraer Phenom 100 jets to train Royal Air Force and Royal Navy air crew. The deal runs until 2033.
defensenews

USAF grounds T-6 II fleet of training aircraft

The Air Force grounded its entire T-6 Texan II training aircraft fleet and has no immediate schedule to get the planes back in the air.
However, most of the planes are expected to be back in the air after a fleet-wide inspection.
The aircraft are largely flown at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi; Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma; and Laughlin Air Force Base and Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.
AETC first stood down the aircraft on April 10 following indications of an engine oil line malfunction.
The Navy and Marine Corps use the same aircraft to train entry-level pilots. The Navy is aware of the Air Force's decision to ground the T-6s, and is monitoring the situation, but has made no decision to ground the plane.
The aircraft is among the newest in the Air Force's fleet, first deployed in May 2000.
airforcetimes

UK Pilots could be taught in basic flying skills on Beechcraft T-6C

The next generation of British military pilots will be taught their basic flying skills on a T-6C trainer if a deal between Ascent Flight Training and an Israeli-US industry consortium known as Affinity conclude final negotiations.
Ascent, the Lockheed Martin-Babcock partnership responsible for the UK military flying training systems (UKMFTS) program, has selected the Elbit Systems/KBR Affinity team as preferred bidder for the fixed-wing aircraft service provider element of the scheme.
defensenews

More T-6C trainers head for New Zealand

Beechcraft has transferred its second batch of two T-6C trainers to New Zealand.
Carrying the registrations NZ1404 and NZ1405, the turboprop-powered aircraft made stops in Canada, Greenland and Iceland, before passing through Glasgow, Scotland and making an overnight stop in Stansted, England on 23 September during the long range transfer. The pair follow an initial two trainers which completed the ferry flight to Ohakea air base in late August.
Ordered in January 2014 under an 11-aircraft deal, New Zealand’s T-6Cs are due to enter full training use in 2016.
The remaining seven aircraft contained within the order will be delivered in 2015, with the type to be flown by the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 14 Sqn.
flightglobal

First RNZAF T-6Cs Touch Down

The first two Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainers for the Royal New Zealand Air Force touched down at Whenuapai, RNZAF Base Auckland this week .
The two aircraft will be formally handed over to the RNZAF in October after intial pilot and maintenance training is completed. To be based at Ohakea, all 11 T-6Cs on order are due to be delivered by June 2015, allowing the first RNZAF pilot training course on the aircaft to begin in early 2016.
defense-studies

Mexico orders next batch of T-6C+ Texan IIs

The Mexican Air Force (FAM) has issued a follow-up contract for a fourth batch of Beechcraft T-6C+ Texan II armed trainers.
This project is the largest so far and follows three previous tranches for 24 Texans, which were procured to equip the Air Force Air Tactical Military School at the No.11 Military Air Base (BAM-11) in Santa Gertrudis, Chihuahua, and the 402nd Air Squadron based at BAM-2 in Ixtepec, Oaxaca.
The new aircraft are to begin replacing the Pilatus PC-7 light interceptor and close air support aircraft that has been in service with the 201st, 202nd, and 203rd Air Squadrons.
janes

Mexico selects Grob trainer

The Mexican Air Force (FAM) has selected the Grob Aircraft G120TP twin-seat turboprop as its new elementary trainer.
A deal worth USD110 million for 25 G120TPs, along with a flight simulator and logistics support plus options on a further 15, was first reported by local media on 21 July.
The contract has yet to be signed, but is imminent. The FAM expects that an initial batch of G120TP is to be delivered by February 2015, when the service celebrates its 100th anniversary.
The selection is part of a major overhaul of Mexico's Military Education System contained in the 2013-18 National Defense Programme, which also includes the T-6C Texan II advanced trainer and emphasises on the use of flight simulators.
janes

First Royal New Zealand Air Force Beechcraft T-6C Takes Flight

The first RNZAF Beechcraft T-6C advanced trainer has made its first flight from Beechcraft’s Wichita facility in Kansas on June 10.
The aircraft – NZ1401 – made the flight with a Beechcraft company crew at the controls and lasted two hours, and functionality checks such as flight performance and handling characteristics were conducted. It will carry the US civil registration of N2824B while the initial flight test program is completed.
New Zealand ordered 11 T-6Cs in January to replace CT-4E trainers in the basic course, and elements of the advanced course currently conducted by the King Air. The first six RNZAF Qualified Flying Instructors (QFIs) are due to commence their conversion to the T-6C in August, and the first four aircraft will be delivered by the end of this year.
The aircraft will be based at Ohakea, and will commence pilot training in mid-2015 by which time all 11 aircraft will have been delivered.
defense-studies

Iraq to buy 24 AT-6C Texan II

The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of 24 AT-6C Texan II Aircraft, 2 spare PT-6A-68 Turboprop engines, 2 spare ALE-47 Counter-Measure Dispensing Systems and/or 2 spare AAR-47 Missile Launch Detection Systems, non-SAASM global positioning systems with CMA-4124, spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, tanker support, ferry services, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The principal contractors will be Beechcraft and Lockheed Martin.
The proposed sale will involve multiple trips to Iraq involving many U.S. government and contractor representatives over a period of 15 years for program management, program and technical reviews, training, maintenance support, and site surveys.
dsca

Mexican navy orders two Beechcraft T-6 trainers

Mexico is expanding its fleet of Beechcraft T-6C Texan trainers with a new order for two aircraft by the nation's navy.
The aircraft, designated T-6C+ models, will be delivered this summer.
Beechcraft, is also working on a contract to provide two years of parts support, pilot and mechanic training and field support to the Mexican navy.
The Mexican air force already has six T-6s, and has placed an order for an additional six aircraft.
The announcement comes two months after news broke that New Zealand will buy 11 T-6Cs.
flightglobal

Lockheed Martin, Pilatus Team For Australian Trainer Bid

A second team has revealed its intentions to bid for the Australian Defence Force’s fixed-wing Pilot Training System contest, along with the Oct. 3 announcement that Lockheed Martin and Pilatus will join forces to exclusively offer the PC-21 platform.
BAE Systems, CAE and Beechcraft announced in September its intention to enter the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II for the competition.
The deal signed between Lockheed Martin and the Swiss manufacturer is an exclusive agreement regarding the PC-21, meaning no other competitor can select the platform.
A Request for Tender for AIR 5428 was released to industry Aug.t 2 and will close in February.
defensenews

Lockheed, Pilatus, Hawker Pacific bid for RAAF basic trainer deal

Lockheed Martin, Pilatus and Hawker Pacific have formally entered the competition for Canberra’s Air 5428 pilot training system requirement.
The offer will be based on the three companies’ existing training of Singapore Air Force pilots under the Basic Wings programme in Perth, which uses the Pilatus PC-21 basic trainer aircraft.
The trio will promote their offering as “Team 21”. They are the second group of companies to formally enter bidding. In September, BAE Systems announced that it would enter the competition with CAE and Beechcraft, with an offering based on the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II.
Since 1992, BAE has operated the Australian Defence Force's Basic Flight Training School (BFTS) at Tamworth, which provides ab intio training and pilot screening for all ADF pilots using a fleet of Pacific Aerospace CT-4B piston trainers.
Boeing, Thales and Raytheon are also expected to announce bids.
Currently, pilots who graduate from the BFTS are then posted to the Royal Australian Air Force's No 2 Flight Training School at RAAF Pearce in Western Australia for advanced training on the Pilatus PC-9/A, after which they are posted to an operational squadron.
Under Air 5428, the respective training aircraft would be replaced by a new integrated training system run by the successful contractor. Australia would also likely acquire the same aircraft for use with the RAAF's Aircraft Research and Development Unit and Forward Air Control Development Unit.
flightglobal

BAE Systems to offer T-6C to Australia

BAE Systems announced on Sept. 11 that it has teamed with Beechcraft and CAE to bid for the Australian Defence Force’s fixed-wing pilot training system with the Beechcraft’s T-6C Texan II.
BAE Systems has provided services to Australia’s forces for flight screening and basic flying training since 1992.
The company is also teamed with Beechcraft in the US to support T-6-based pilot training for the US Navy.
The Australian pilot training system competition, known as Project AIR 5428, has been underway since 2005, but a formal request for tender was released in August.
The BAE Systems/Beechcraft/CAE team is the first to break cover in the current incarnation of Air 5428.
Boeing Defence Australia is also interested in the competition.
The Pilatus PC-21 is the main competitor to the T-6C, but the Swiss company is yet to reveal its plans for the pilot training system.
AIR 5428 will replace the separate fixed-wing basic and advanced flying training programs with a single system that will take a candidate from flight screening to wings and will make significant use of simulation and other synthetic training aids.
The tender is due to close in February and the successful system will graduate its first students in early 2017.
defensenews

First Completed T-6C Trainers Delivered to Mexico

Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company (HBDC) announced the first four of six Beechcraft T-6C+ military trainers ordered by the Mexican Air Force (FAM) were delivered in a ceremony this week at Santa Lucia Air Force Base in Reyes Acozac, Mexico. The remaining two aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in time for Mexico’s Independence Day celebration on Sept. 16.

FAM’s order is the first for the new T-6C+, an enhanced version of the T-6 military trainer aircraft. It is capable of carrying external stores and delivering practice weapons for training purposes, and will replace the FAM’s aging PC-7 fleet. The FAM will use the T-6C+ for intermediate to advanced tactics including air-to-ground weapons employment capabilities and training.

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