Indian Air Force to evaluate Beechcraft T-6C trainer

WASHINGTON - Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) has announced that its Beechcraft T-6C military trainer is scheduled for evaluation by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in field trials beginning Oct 11 at the Air Force Station, Jamnagar.

HBC is vying for a contract that specifies an initial purchase of 75 aircraft and options for follow-on orders that could eventually exceed 100 aircraft. A decision on the contract is anticipated in the coming months,” a company statement said.

The T-6C offers the Indian Air Force the worlds most proven and cost-effective training system available, said Jim Maslowski, HBC president, US and international government business.

It accommodates instruction in instrument flight procedures and basic aerial maneuvers and, including its predecessors the T-6A and T-6B, has accounted for more than 640 deliveries worldwide, he added.

The T-6C is being considered as a replacement for the IAFs HPT-32 trainer that has been grounded for much of 2010 over mechanical failures.

The evaluations will be conducted over five days and will consist of flights by IAF test and instructor pilots. HBC will also demonstrate the T-6Cs maintainability as part of the evaluation,” the statement said.

The T-6C features an integrated glass cockpit and an advanced avionics suite that greatly expands advanced training opportunities, including a heads-up display, up-front control panel, three multifunction displays and hands-on throttle and stick.

With its hard point wing, it can accommodate external fuel tanks and the systems and capabilities of todays front-line strike fighter aircraft, while retaining all the inherent training and flying characteristics that have made the T-6 one of the most successful primary trainers in the world.

The Beechcraft T-6 delivers an outstanding training capability that is appropriate for most basic introductory flight training through more challenging and complex advanced training missions. To date, it has been used to train pilots from approximately 20 different countries, the statement said.

Deliveries of the T-6 began in 2000 after the aircraft was initially selected to fill the joint primary aircraft training system role for the US Air Force and the US Navy. Since then, additional military programmes worldwide, including NATO flying training in Canada, the Hellenic Air Force, the Israeli Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force and the Royal Moroccan Air Force have chosen the T-6 as their primary trainers.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft - designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide.