Paris Air Show News: Raytheon Aircraft Company's Next Generation T-6 Trainer Concludes World Tour
Raytheon Aircraft Company's upgraded primary training aircraft wil conclude its world tour following an appearance at the Paris Air Show.
Le Bourget, France, -- Raytheon Aircraft Company's upgraded primary training aircraft, the next-generation Beechcraft T-6, will conclude its world tour following an appearance at the Paris Air Show. On January 18, the aircraft and the T-6 team departed from Beech Field in Wichita, Kansas, to start a journey that included flight demonstrations in the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Australia, Thailand, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and France. The Paris Air Show will be the last stop on the tour, and will be marked by a special aerobatic performance from three-time U.S. National Aerobatic champion, Patty Wagstaff.
The objective of the world tour was to take the next generation trainer to the customer community to enable them to view and fly the aircraft in their own environment, affording them the ability to experience the handling capabilities of the aircraft, first-hand. In addition, the customer was briefed not only on the aircraft, but on all aspects of Raytheon Aircraft Company's integrated training solution. This includes the ground-based training system (GBTS), which offers state-of-the-art computer-based academics and advanced courseware; high-fidelity flight and procedural training devices and simulators; and a training integration management system (TIMS).
"The feedback we have received has been invaluable, and every comment is helping us to shape our product to meet the needs of each unique customer," said Pat Farley, director of business development, government business. "Taking our integrated training solution directly to the customer has been a huge success. The tour has helped to develop a relationship where the customer now sees us as their training partner, rather than a platform supplier." Those who flew in the aircraft commented that it was a proven platform capable of training both beginner and advanced students, and that the upgraded avionics and open architecture made it a cost-effective training solution.
With 95 percent commonality with the highly successful T-6A Texan II flown by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Hellenic Air Force of Greece and the NATO Flying Training in Canada Program, the newly upgraded Beechcraft T-6 is the most advanced trainer and light attack aircraft currently available. The aircraft features an avionics suite intended for customers interested in fully utilizing the aircraft's training footprint.
Each suite consists of a Flight Visions, Inc., FV-4000 Modular Mission Display Processor (MMDP), a SparrowHawk™ Head Up Display (HUD), stores management, and multifunction displays (MFD). The enhanced avionics suite provides advanced cockpit management functions and an open architecture mission computer that allows the aircraft to act in a multi-role capability – both as trainer and a light attack aircraft. The open architecture also allows for configuration flexibility that gives the student the opportunity to fly a next generation aircraft at lower cost. The Beechcraft T-6 can also be missionized and outfitted with guns, rockets and bombs, fulfilling a secondary role as a light attack aircraft.
Raytheon Aircraft designs, manufactures, markets and supports Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft for the world's commercial, military and regional airline markets. For more information visit www.raytheonaircraft.com.
