PICS: New Zealand's first T-6C Texan turboprop is flying...

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/us_embassy ... 111562936/

On January 24, 2014 at New Zealand Defence House in Wellington, New Zealand, Helene Quilter, Secretary of Defence and Russ Bartlett, President of Beechcraft Inc., of Wichita, Kansas signed a contract to replace the existing Beech King Air aircraft with the T-6 trainer aircraft.

The first two new T-6 trainer aircraft are due to arrive in New Zealand later this year.

Beechcraft’s contract will support approximately 550 U.S. jobs including Beechcraft’s production and engineering positions in Wichita.

Quite a surprise!

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/20601 ... ing?page=2

I'd heard a rumour of this order a couple of weeks ago. Interested to hear what advice and information the RNZAF has sought from the RAAF, because I'm aware the Aussies weren't enamoured by the variant after reviewing it.

The second part was that 14 Sqn is to be reformed to fly them. If true, I don't think that flying a small number of turbo prop pilot trainers is suitable for the reformation of one of the premier RNZAF fighter squadrons.

Note the colour scheme (14 Sqn markings apparently!) and I'm told there will be 11 aircraft, all flying.

[Stratofreighter]

For those interested
http://www.pacificwingsmagazine.com/201 ... e-solution
published back in July 2012 may be a good read.

[nellis6]

Replacing King Airs with T-6! Very interesting, a twin replaced by a single seat trainer. Hardly a similar aircraft or role, so a strange choice. I can understand the order for the T-6 as the RNZAF have nothing like it, but to replace King Airs, is this really the case or are they going to supplement the King Airs?

[Erik_7Xi]

Replacing King Airs with T-6! Very interesting, a twin replaced by a single seat trainer. Hardly a similar aircraft or role, so a strange choice. I can understand the order for the T-6 as the RNZAF have nothing like it, but to replace King Airs, is this really the case or are they going to supplement the King Airs?

When the King Air lease contract expired, 4 replacement King Airs were leased to the RNZAF again. However, the original King Airs all had serial numbers in the Trainer range (NZ1..., e.g. NZ1882). The "new" King Airs received serials in the transport range (NZ7...), indicating the shift from training to transport role, with a secondary task of multi-engine training and certification.
(All of them are ex-civilian King Air B200.)

Although the King Airs made sense as multi-engine trainers, their cockpit is completely analogue. As all RNZAF C-130Hs and P-3Ks are being upgraded with fully digital ("glass") cockpits, the RNZAF simply had no aircraft to prepare pilots to fly in a fully digital environment, and using a Hercules or Orion as a trainer would be impractical and very expensive.
With the Bell 47 and UH-1H being replaced by the A109 and NH90, glass cockpits are quickly becoming the standard within the RNZAF.

When you then start looking for a high performance, glass cockpit turbo prop trainer - you quickly end up with the likes of the T-6 and Super Tucano.
The only drawback of either aircraft is the use of ejection seats, as that maintenance skill was lost when the MB339s and A-4Ks were phased out 15 years ago.

I am not sure if the RNZAF looked at any other aircraft but the T-6, I have only seen the Hawker T-6B demonstrator here in New Zealand.

So yes, the King Airs will probably remain in service for longer, seeing that a new lease agreement was only recently signed for the 4 "new" B200s and the T-6 makes sense although it would make far more economical sense if they would also purchase some fighters along with it

[nellis6]

Main point being that the C-130's and P-3's are multi-engine, so surely need a multi-engine trainer?

[SquAdmin]

Wouldn't it be make more (economic) sense to equip the King Airs with glass cockpits?

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[PilotoRico]

The Super King Air lease will be till june 2018. The aicraft will be used for various tasks including multi-engine training, VIP transport and coastal patrol missions.

Cheers.

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[Stratofreighter]

Now also see http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... al-395261/

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is to buy 11 Beechcraft T-6Cs to meet its requirement for an advanced pilot training capability.

The NZ$154 million ($127 million) deal will also include simulators and classroom- and computer-based training packages.

New Zealand requires an intermediate trainer with a glass cockpit
that will be able to take students from the Pacific Aerospace CT-4E Airtrainer to the Lockheed Martin P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft,
Boeing 757 and upgraded Lockheed C-130H transports,
plus the AgustaWestland AW109, NH Industries NH90 and future Kaman SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopters.

The T-6Cs will be operated by 14 Sqn, which previously flew the Aermacchi MB-339CB in the advanced training and light attack roles, until the disbandment of the New Zealand’s air combat force in 2001.

A first aircraft will be delivered from Wichita, Kansas in mid-2015, but will be owned by Beechcraft and used to train maintenance personnel. Training facilities and simulators should also be in place by the same time, enabling the first qualified flying instructor course to begin.

The deal was signed by defence secretary Helene Quilter and Beechcraft Defense president Russ Bartlett on 24 January, and formally announced by defence minister Jonathan Coleman on 27 January.

“The new system is expected to be operational for the first trainee intake in early 2016," Coleman says. "It is estimated it will produce up to 15 graduate pilots and 12 qualifying flying instructors per year over the next 30 years.”

And http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/20601 ... med?page=1 already hinted to what the excerpt below states:

Basic pilot training is currently carried out on the CT-4E, but structural problems with the leased fleet have reportedly caused backlogs in the output of qualified pilots.

The type is scheduled to reach the end of its service life in 2018. Advanced and twin-engined training is conducted with the Beechcraft King Air 200, which are leased under a contract that will expire in 2018.

[Erik_7Xi]

Main point being that the C-130's and P-3's are multi-engine, so surely need a multi-engine trainer?

They still have 4 King Airs for transport *and* multi-engine qualifications.

Wouldn't it be make more (economic) sense to equip the King Airs with glass cockpits?

Not reall, you cannot just stick some MFDs in an aircraft . Such an upgrade program is expensive, it requires input from the manufacturer and re-certification from the CAA.

The best option would be to have Hawker upgrade the aircraft, as they have a FAA certified glass-cockpit upgrade package for the King Air series:
http://www.avionics-intelligence.com/ar ... props.html

But ultimately, the King Airs are released civilian aircraft - it would make no sense for the RNZAF to invest in aircraft they do not own.

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.asiandefencenews.com/2014/06 ... force.html

First Royal New Zealand Air Force Beechcraft T-6C Takes Flight

The first RNZAF Beechcraft T-6C advanced trainer has made its first flight from Beechcraft’s Wichita facility in Kansas.

The aircraft – NZ1401 – made the flight with a Beechcraft company crew at the controls and lasted two hours,
and functionality checks such as flight performance and handling characteristics were conducted.

It will carry the US civil registration of N2824B while the initial flight test program is completed

http://defence-blog.com/?p=1654

http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/0 ... es-flight/