First two RTAF Texan IIs delivered

On 4 November 2022, the first two Beechcraft T-6C Texan II training aircraft for the Kong Thap Akat Thai (RTAF, Royal Thai Air Force) were delivered through Glasgow International Airport (UK).

UPDATE 14 November 2022: at the welcome ceremony in Thailand a banner was shown displaying the designation of the trainer as T-6C. The RTAF must reverted the designation from T-6TH back to T-6C.

The two aircraft, trainer type 22 within the RTAF, were registered N2773B (c/n PM-147) and N2792B (c/n PM-148). They did not carry their RTAF serials, but only the tactical codes 01 respectively 02. The future RTAF serials should be F22-01/65 for code 01 and F22-02/65 for code 02.

The delivery routed from Wichita (KS) to Sault Ste Marie, Val D'or and Goose Bay (all Canada) and further on to Keflavik (Iceland) and Glasgow. From Glasgow the aircraft flew to Turin (Italy) and on to Heraklion (Greece).

Next stops were at Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) and Kolkata (West Bengal, India) before arriving at Chiang Mai International on Saturday 12 November.

The contract, which was signed on 28 September 2020 between Textron Aviation Defense LLc and the RTAF, is for twelve T-6C Texan IIs.

According to earlier reported information Textron will ferry two of the twelve aircraft to Thailand, whilst the other ten will be crated and transported to the 4th Air Division/Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom air base, where they will replace the Pilatus PC-9s. The latest information is that already eight Texan IIs have arrived in crates with Thai Aviation Industries at Don Muang to be assembled. The final two are still in the US for training etc and will follow on a later date. They will also be send to Thailand in crates.

Photo by Michael Clarke (via AirHistory.net)