T-6 Texan II

Beechcraft · United States · first flew 1992 · light aircraft

A turboprop primary trainer derived from the Pilatus PC-9, used across US and allied air arms to teach basic flying.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × turboprop, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.16 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Single turboprop with four-blade prop and pointed spinner
Tandem stepped cockpit under one-piece bubble canopy
Low tapered wing with squared tips

Look for the pointed spinner and four-blade propeller, the stepped tandem bubble canopy and the low tapered wing. The bulged dorsal spine and clean turboprop nose distinguish it from piston trainers.

Specifications

The T-6 Texan II has a length of 10.16 m (33 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.19 m (33 ft).
Its maximum speed is 585 km/h (364 mph).
Typical crew: 2 (instructor and student).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Beechcraft developed the Texan II from the Pilatus PC-9 to win the US Joint Primary Aircraft Training System competition in 1995. It first flew in 1992 and entered US service from 2000, replacing the T-37 and T-34. A pressurised cockpit and a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop give it jet-like handling for ab initio students.

Variants

The T-6A serves the USAF and US Navy, while the T-6B and export T-6C add glass cockpits, hardpoints and updated avionics. The CT-156 Harvard II equips Canada's NATO flying training programme.

Where you'll see it

The Texan II is not an RAF type; British elementary and basic training has instead used the Tucano, Tutor and more recently the Texan T1 at RAF Valley under the UK Military Flying Training System. It is widely operated by the US, Canada and numerous export customers.

Related aircraft

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