RTAF T-6TH Texan II
On 1 August 2022, Rodney Bastow photographed this Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II destined for the Kong Thap Akat Thai (RTAF, Royal Thai Air Force) at Amarillo International Airport (TX).
The Texan II, temporary registered as N2840B, already shows part of its future serial and code "09". The aircraft came from the Textron Aviation Defense LLc airfield at Wichita (KS), fueled up and returned back.
In September 2020, the RTAF signed a contract with Textron Aviation Defense LLc for the delivery of twelve Beechcraft T-6C Texan II, christened the T-6TH in Thailand, advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission planning and debrief system, spare parts and ground support equipment.
Training of RTAF pilots and maintenance professionals started in Wichita in 2022. The aircraft are expected to join the RTAF between late 2022 and early 2023. Textron Aviation Defense plans to ferry two of the twelve aircraft to Thailand, crating and transporting the remaining ten aircraft to Kamphaeng Saen air base. The new trainers will be operated by the 4th Air Division/Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom air base.
Photo by Rodney Bastow Photography