Beechcraft T-6C gains EASA certification
Textron Aviation Defense LLC. announced today that the Beechcraft T-6C military trainer has achieved basic certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), supporting future configuration certification and delivery of 10 previously ordered T-6C aircraft for the UK Ministry of Defence's Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) programme.
The T-6C aircraft, on schedule to begin deliveries next year, will support team Affinity of Affinity Flying Training Services, a joint venture between Elbit Systems and KBR (Kellogg, Brown and Root) selected to provide aircraft and maintenance services to the UKMFTS programme.
“Achieving EASA certification for the T-6C supports the progression of our contract with UKMFTS, and additionally opens up opportunities to provide a proven military training platform to the European market,” said Tom Hammoor, president of Textron Aviation Defence. “This highly capable training platform, further enhanced with exceptional product support, equips our customers with a superior solution for a wide range of mission needs.”
Textron Aviation Defence provides the UKMFTS programme with a multitude of support services including engineering services, parts support and maintenance training. In addition, on-site Field Service Representatives will deliver ongoing technical expertise to maintenance personnel.
The T-6C military trainer is an advanced version of the original T-6A with updated cockpit avionics. In order to replicate today’s high-tech frontline aircraft, the new cockpit features a Head-Up Display (HUD), Up-Front Control Panel (UFCP), three color Multi-Function Displays (MFD), Hands-On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) as well as advanced synthetic air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons training capabilities.
The integrated glass cockpit and a state-of-the-art avionics suite expands its capabilities, enabling the advanced systems and information management skills training required in current and future military aircraft. The T-6C variant maintains avionics similarity with the US Navy’s T-6B while incorporating a hard-point wing to allow carriage of external fuel tanks.
The T-6 delivers world-class training capability and is ideally suited for teaching the most basic introductory flight training tasks through challenging and complex advanced training missions with low-operating costs. The T-6 is used to train pilots, navigators and weapons systems operators from more than 20 countries around the world. To date, the company has delivered more than 950 T-6 trainers, which have amassed more than three million flight hours.