The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy now join the United States Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force as operators of the Beechcraft T-6C which will be used to train pilots in readiness for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) recently took delivery of its fleet of T-6C aircraft and has commenced the transition of this platform into training operations. As testament to the pedigree of the T-6C’s design, the NZDF has already extended the planned life of type for their fleet beyond the required 20 years out to 30 years.
27 Air Forces globally now depend on the T-6C to graduate in excess of 2,250 pilots each year. In addition, four of the ‘Five Eyes’ nations (UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia) are now operating the Beechcraft T-6 military trainer in their undergraduate pilot training systems.
Source and image: BAE Systems