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T-6 Texan to replace T-34 [NAS Corpus Christi]
Corpus Christi Caller-Times ^ | December 4, 2006 | Fanny S. Chirinos

Posted on 12/05/2006 9:31:42 AM PST by SwinneySwitch

Local Navy student pilots will learn the craft's digital cockpit

Student pilots at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi will begin training for more advanced aircraft when the T-6 Texan II replaces the T-34 Turbomentor. The change will occur in 2012.

The single-engine, two-seat T-6 that will replace the single-engine, two-seat T-34 will have a digital cockpit instead of a dial-instrumentation cockpit.

The change allows the students to learn a digital cockpit from the beginning, instead of learning a dial cockpit and then a digital cockpit in advanced training, said Lt. Sean Robertson, a spokesman for the Chief of Naval Air Training.

The cockpit has several levels of complexity that can be changed to teach students different scenarios.

The aircraft was tested at Naval Air Station Kingsville last month by Navy and Marine Corps squadron leaders, who praised the T-6 as "just what the Navy needs."

The T-6 is the primary trainer for Marine Corps and Air Force pilots. The Navy's Training Wing 6 in Pensacola, Fla., uses 40 T-6 trainers.

"One of the pluses is that all our aviators will have similar backgrounds in aviation," Robertson said. "It opens up possibilities because it's the same basic equipment. It gives U.S. military aviation more flexibility."

Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio has been using the T-6 since 2001 and is still phasing out its T-37s, said David Smith, the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command chief of news division.

"What the T-6 has done is taken out the old technology of the mid-1950s and brought in modern, digital technology," Smith said. "The glass (digital) cockpit allows more efficient training. The aircraft's not faster, but it has more maneuverability. If pilots are doing touch-and-go landings on a strip and they have to do four of them in a row, the T-6 will do it quicker than the T-37."

With twice the output engine power than the T-34, the T-6 is capable of more than 7-Gs, which makes it more dynamic and able to do more aerobatics. It's also the first Navy primary trainer to feature ejection seats.

Along with newer technology comes a new cost. The T-34 used at the Corpus Christi base costs about $1 million. The T-6 is about a $4.3 million aircraft. Congress has funded the Navy's replacement processes, Robertson said. Raytheon builds both aircraft.

"This will bring upper-level flight training to the primary syllabus," Robertson said. "When given the opportunity to do joint training, you have to take it."

Contact Fanny S. Chirinos at 886-3759 or chirinosf'@caller.com


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: nascorpuschristi; navy; t34; t6
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Contributed photos

A T-6 Texan pilot observes his wingmen during a
training flight near Laughlin Air Force Base. The
single-engine, two-seat T-6, which will replace the
single-engine, two-seat T-34, will have a digital
cockpit instead of dial-instrumentation.

1 posted on 12/05/2006 9:31:47 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
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To: SwinneySwitch

2 posted on 12/05/2006 9:34:50 AM PST by r9etb
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To: SwinneySwitch
The T-34 used at the Corpus Christi base costs about $1 million. The T-6 is about a $4.3 million aircraft.

A four million dollar TRAINER?

Good lord, why not digitze the cockpit of a Cessna 172 for basic pilot training?

3 posted on 12/05/2006 9:36:43 AM PST by Terabitten (How is there no anger in the words I hear, only love and mercy, erasing every fear" - Rez Band)
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To: Terabitten

You're right--they're costly. But do you want to under-train pilots who will soon be flying $80M fighters? The venerable 172 is a good civil aircraft, but it doesn't beging to replicate the speed and maneuverability of front-line military aircraft.

TC


4 posted on 12/05/2006 9:42:02 AM PST by Pentagon Leatherneck
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To: SwinneySwitch
The original T-6 Texan in the foreground.


5 posted on 12/05/2006 9:45:25 AM PST by My2Cents
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To: SwinneySwitch
I like this Texan better:


6 posted on 12/05/2006 9:46:40 AM PST by Gator101
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To: Pentagon Leatherneck
You're right--they're costly. But do you want to under-train pilots who will soon be flying $80M fighters? The venerable 172 is a good civil aircraft, but it doesn't beging to replicate the speed and maneuverability of front-line military aircraft.

Correct me if I'm wrong - flight training consists of at least two parts - basic and advanced, right? Then, after that, the pilots have to qualify in their aircraft. If I understand correctly, the T-6 Texan II is for basic flight training - simply learning to fly. They still have to go to advanced training, where they learn more about high-performance fighters, and then they still have to check out in their combat aircraft.

It seems that $4.3 million is a bit pricey to train basic flight skills.

7 posted on 12/05/2006 9:48:05 AM PST by Terabitten (How is there no anger in the words I hear, only love and mercy, erasing every fear" - Rez Band)
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To: My2Cents

Didn't know you could recycle designations. I'm thinking what else I'd like to see back.


8 posted on 12/05/2006 9:50:00 AM PST by tanuki
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To: Pentagon Leatherneck

Two other items:

First, thank you for your service. You gave me a free country to grow up in.

Second: I was being a *bit* tongue in cheek about the 172. My main point remains, however, about $4.3 million seeming a bit pricey for a basic trainer.


9 posted on 12/05/2006 9:50:39 AM PST by Terabitten (How is there no anger in the words I hear, only love and mercy, erasing every fear" - Rez Band)
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To: Terabitten
Good lord, why not digitze the cockpit of a Cessna 172 for basic pilot training?

First the Cessna 172 is a high-wing aircraft so landings & approaches are different. I wouldn't think that the Cessnas airframe is pre-stressed for aerobatics, either. I would think that if you used the 172 you'd have to add an intermediate step to flight training using still another trainer. THAT would be REALLY wasteful.

10 posted on 12/05/2006 9:53:28 AM PST by Tallguy
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To: Tallguy
First the Cessna 172 is a high-wing aircraft so landings & approaches are different. I wouldn't think that the Cessnas airframe is pre-stressed for aerobatics, either. I would think that if you used the 172 you'd have to add an intermediate step to flight training using still another trainer. THAT would be REALLY wasteful.

See my post #9. I was being a bit sarcastic about the Cessna 172. The point remains, however, that $4.3 million is awfully damn expensive for a basic flight trainer.

11 posted on 12/05/2006 9:57:46 AM PST by Terabitten (How is there no anger in the words I hear, only love and mercy, erasing every fear" - Rez Band)
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To: Terabitten
If you look at the follow on aircraft student aviators will flow into, it doesn't make sense to use a 172 for primary flight training.

Some of the students trained in the T-6 will be selected for fighter and strike pipelines and their next aircraft will be either the T-38 or T-45.

These students need a high performance aircraft capable of aerobatic performance, training towards glass cockpits, and hands on stick and throttle flying.

12 posted on 12/05/2006 9:58:58 AM PST by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: Terabitten

OK. The point remains though that if you skimp on capabilities in the Basic Trainer, then it's a bigger jump to the Advanced Trainer.

Kinda interesting how the T6 was revamped after all these years. I imagine that a good chunk of the cost for those puppies is the electronics. So you're not getting away from that $4.3 mil per copy price regardless of the specific aircraft type that you choose.

Someone once refered to the electronics package of a combat aircraft as "prime cuts" -- presumably because that's where the bulk of the $$$'s go.


13 posted on 12/05/2006 10:04:13 AM PST by Tallguy
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To: Tallguy
Someone once refered to the electronics package of a combat aircraft as "prime cuts" -- presumably because that's where the bulk of the $$$'s go.

So it's a $3 million avionics package?

Does it at least come with a cd player?

14 posted on 12/05/2006 10:23:25 AM PST by Terabitten (How is there no anger in the words I hear, only love and mercy, erasing every fear" - Rez Band)
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To: Terabitten

It is not just a basic trainer. Students who are selected for multi engine and helicopters will take advanced training in the Texan as well.

The training is also much more that just takeoff and landing. They go through familiarization, instrument training, form training and acrobatics. These aircraft also have to be able to withstand about 1000 flight hours a year.

I think the price tag is just about right for the mission to which it is assigned.


15 posted on 12/05/2006 10:36:19 AM PST by Francis McClobber
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To: SwinneySwitch

T-34
16 posted on 12/05/2006 10:37:16 AM PST by F-117A (Hey, Borat! Come talk to these "people"!)
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To: tanuki

The've recycled names, of course. The one that comes to mind is the Corsair. I'd like to see them bring back the P-51 Mustang.


17 posted on 12/05/2006 11:02:35 AM PST by My2Cents
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To: Pentagon Leatherneck

Remember that at T-34 is basically a tandem seat Beech Bonanza.


18 posted on 12/05/2006 11:11:19 AM PST by Starwolf
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To: Terabitten

Actually it does. I've flown them all and know that the newly minted pilot who now advances through the stages of the new joint service training program into the separate aircraft and service specific tracks is far, far superior to those of us who've made that journey in the past. Where once military flying was a combination of navigating, communicating and aviating as a member of a larger group, the new aerial warrior is much more likely to be a one-airplane delivery system and strike force. In addition to the traditional roles, the speed at which things occur, the over-the-horizon systems management and electronic wizzardry demand much more than stick and rudder know-how.
And, it cannot be ignored that there will be far fewer winged guys and gals in flight suits than has been the case throughout the history of military operations. The new T-6 is the right basic machine to create the manned aircraft driver of the 21st Century.


19 posted on 12/05/2006 11:27:52 AM PST by middie
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To: SwinneySwitch
According to the Navy, the last T-34C training flight occurred last year...

Three Wire Magazine

20 posted on 12/05/2006 11:32:24 AM PST by pabianice
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