Beechcraft / Raytheon T-6 Texan II

Tandem-Seat Basic Trainer Aircraft

United States | 2001

"The Beechcraft-Raytheon T-6 Texan II is an acrobatic tandem-seat aviation trainer that remains in service with several nations today - including the United States."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/30/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

Firepower

Performance

Survivability

Versatility

Impact

The Beechcraft/Raytheon T-6 "Texan II" is a lightweight, high performance, turboprop-powered basic/advanced trainer based on the Swiss Pilatus PC-9 series. The aircraft was born through a U.S. DoD initiative to help consolidate pilot training amongst its Air Force and Navy services while doing away with older generation T-34 and T-37 aircraft then in service. Begun in 1991, the JPATS (Joint Primary Aircraft Training System) program was established as a combination of resources in an effort to reduce the overall costs of pilot training. The T-6 Texan II was the adopted aircraft that beat out some six other suitors, becoming the namesake to the World War 2-era North American T-6 "Texan" in its primary role. Exported to other nations, the Texan II has also been outfitted with munitions for the light attack role.

The T-6 Texan II series is largely on the Pilatus PC-9 Mk II variant with the first prototype flight conducted in December of 1992. Deliveries then began in 2000 with formal service introduction had in 2001. Despite some obvious commonalities between the Swiss version and the American mark, the T-6 Texan II enjoys a reinforced internal structure and a more powerful engine. Due to the militarization common to aircraft ported over from civilian models, the Texan II was given an increased Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) as well as ejection seats for the two pilots. The two airmen are seated in tandem under a single-piece canopy hinged to open to the side. The typical arrangement seats the student in front with the instructor at rear while vision from both seats remains excellent thanks to the raised bubble-style canopy in play.

Power is served through a sole Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 series turboprop engine developing 1,100 horsepower while driving a four-bladed Hartzell propeller assembly at front. Speeds can reach 365 miles per hour while cruising is generally handled in the 320-mile per hour range. Operational ranges reach out to 1,035 miles with a service ceiling of 31,000 feet. The airframe is rated for G-limits up to 7.0g and -3.5g.

Operators beyond the United States now include Canada (CF-156 "Harvard II"), Greece, Iraq, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, and New Zealand. Canadian aircraft carry over the original "Harvard" name of World War 2 based on the original North American T-6 trainers. The Iraqi Air Force has received some 36 AT-6B Texan II light attack variants to date while New Zealand models are set to be delivered in 2016. Mexico received its aircraft in 2012-2013 and these serve both the air force and naval branches of service.

Current marks include the standard T-6A trainer, the T-6A NTA light attack model for the Greek Air Force, the upgraded T-6B with glass cockpit and HOTAS (Hands On Throttle-and-Stick). the AT-6B light attack variant, the T-6C upgraded form, and the Canadian CT-156 "Harvard II" largely based on the USAF/USN models.

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October 2019 - Tunisia has been named as a possible customer for the storied (and proven) T-6 Texan II basic/advanced trainer.

June 2020 - Elbit of Israel has secured a $38 million USD commitment from the Israeli Air Force to continue support of the service's T-6A trainer fleet.

September 2020 - The Royal Thai Air Force has committed to the purchase of 12 T-6C basic trainers. The order includes training and spare parts for the fleet. These will be used to succeed an aging fleet of Pilatus PC-9M aircraft in same role. The deal was announced on September 28th, 2020.

Cockpit
While traditional jobs involve workstations, office desks, or cubicles, aircraft provide operators with their own unique, ever-changing view of the world below.

[ Click to Enlarge ]

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Beechcraft / Raytheon T-6A Texan II Tandem-Seat Basic Trainer Aircraft.

1 x Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) PT6A-68 turboprop engine developing 1,100 shaft horsepower driving four-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
Propulsion

320 mph
515 kph | 278 kts
Max Speed

31,004 ft
9,450 m | 6 miles
Service Ceiling

979 miles
1,575 km | 850 nm
Operational Range

3,100 ft/min
945 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Beechcraft / Raytheon T-6A Texan II Tandem-Seat Basic Trainer Aircraft.

2
(MANNED)
Crew

33.5 ft
10.20 m
O/A Length

33.5 ft
(10.21 m)
O/A Width

10.7 ft
(3.26 m)
O/A Height

4,601 lb
(2,087 kg)
Empty Weight

6,301 lb
(2,858 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Beechcraft / Raytheon T-6 Texan II Tandem-Seat Basic Trainer Aircraft .

Typically none. However, armed versions for the light attack role can be armed through unguided rocket pods, gun / cannon pods, and conventional drop bombs. External fuel drop tanks can be fitted for extended operational ranges as needed.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Beechcraft / Raytheon T-6 Texan II family line.

T-6 "Texan II" - Base series designation; based on the Swiss Pilatus PC-9 series.

T-6A - Base Trainer for use by USAF, USN, and Greek Air Force.

T-6A NTA - Armed variant for Greece Air Force; based on T-6A model; provision for drop bombs, gun pods, rocket pods, and external fuel tanks.

T-6B - Updated Texan II; digital cockpit; HOTAS.

AT-6B - Armed Light Attack Variant based on T-6B model.

CT-156 "Harvard II" - Canadian T-6A export version

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Beechcraft / Raytheon T-6 Texan II. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 855 Units
Contractor(s): Raytheon Aircraft Company / Hawker Beechcraft (Textron Aviation) - USA

[ Argentina; Canada; Greece; Iraq; Israel; Mexico; Morocco; New Zealand; Thailand (announced); Tunisia (possible); United Kingdom; United States ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 400mph

Lo: 200mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (320mph).

Graph Average of 300 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

855

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

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Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

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