The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company (which became Hawker Beechcraft and later Beechcraft Defense Company, and was bought by Textron Aviation in 2014). A trainer aircraft based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 has replaced the United States Air Force’s Cessna T-37B Tweet and the United States Navy’s T-34C Turbo Mentor.
| Role | Trainer aircraft |
|---|---|
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Textron Aviation |
| First flight | 15 July 1998 |
| Introduction | 2001 |
| Status | In production |
| Primary users | United States Air Force United States Navy Royal Canadian Air Force Hellenic Air Force |
| Produced | 2000–present |
| Number built | over 850 |
| Developed from | Pilatus PC-9 |
Operators
- Argentine Air Force
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Hellenic Air Force
- Iraqi Air Force
- Israeli Air Force
- Mexican Air Force
- Mexican Navy
- Royal Moroccan Air Force
- Royal New Zealand Air Force
- Royal Thai Air Force
- Royal Air Force
- United States Air Force
- United States Army
- United States Navy
Specifications (T-6A)
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
- Wingspan: 33 ft 5 in (10.19 m)
- Height: 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
- Wing area: 177.5 sq ft (16.49 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 6.29:1
- Empty weight: 4,707 lb (2,135 kg)
- Gross weight: 6,300 lb (2,858 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,500 lb (2,948 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 149.0 Imp gal (677.5 liters, 1200 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop, 1,100 shp (820 kW)
- Propellers: 4-bladed Hartzell HC-E4A-2 Hub with E9612 blades, 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m) diameter
Performance
- Cruise speed: 320 mph (510 km/h, 280 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 364 mph (586 km/h, 316 kn)
- Range: 1,000 mi (1,700 km, 900 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 31,000 ft (9,400 m)
- g limits: +7.0g −3.5g
Photos Rob Vogelaar and Marcel van Leeuwen
