Hawker Beechcraft promotes T-6 trainer in Middle East

By Siva Govindasamy

Hawker Beechcraft is pushing its T-6 military trainer in the Middle East, touting recent successful sales and the aircraft's capabilities to meet basic training requirements.

The company has received orders from Israel, Iraq and Morocco for the aircraft, ground-based training systems, logistic support and defence services this year. The contract for 24 T-6Cs to the Royal Moroccan Air Force was the first sale of the newest version of the aircraft, says Hawker Beechcraft.

"The T-6 is the world's premier integrated pilot training solution and the most affordable trainer available today," says Jim Maslowski, president, US and international government business. "The advanced technology of the trainer mirrors the systems and capabilities of today's frontline military aircraft. We are pleased with the positive response we've received and look forward to continued interest from international customers looking to modernise their military pilot trainer forces."

The T-6C features an integrated glass cockpit and the upgraded, integrated Esterline CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite includes an integrated avionics computer, a head-up display, up-front control panel, six multifunction displays, inertial reference unit, digital video recorder/data transfer system, radar altimeter and on-board synthetic training, such as no-drop bomb scoring.

These are integrated with a hands-on throttle and stick, providing the student pilot and instructor with an easy interface to the digital cockpit.

The CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite incorporate a fully integrated and US Federal Aviation Administration-certificated dual flight management system/GPS navigation suite, while its open architecture design "provides the flexibility to expand capabilities and continuously meet current and future training needs", says Hawker Beechcraft.

The T-6C will replace Morocco's Beechcraft T-34 basic trainers and Cessna T-37 jet trainers, and help to train the service's fighter, transport and helicopter pilots.

Since the first deliveries in 2000, Hawker Beechcraft has delivered more than 550 T-6s and 94 aircrew training devices. The US Navy has started receiving T-6Bs and is expected to acquire more than 260 aircraft by 2015 to replace its ageing T-34 fleet.

T-6A Specifications

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Posted in: Dubai Air Show,Middle East,Training aircraft