Navy's new T-6B Texan II finally arrives at Whiting...

bunk22

bunk22

Well-Known Member
The main difference between the B and A, besides the paint job is the cockpit. The B has a full glass cockpit and HUD:

t-6B20rollout4.jpg


T-6B20rollout2.jpg


The cockpit:

phpd1m5aapm.jpg
 
granlistillo said:
Any plans to sell the T-34C's? If I won the lottery that would be at the top of the toy list.
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+100

The -34 is still the most pure fun I have had in an airplane......so simple, relatively powerful, and not TOO many ways to kill yourself in it.
 
So the Navy is giving up on producing competent instrument pilots, eh? Lotta good that HUD and glass time will do when those pilot hit the P-3 and C-130 fleets.
 
aloft said:
So the Navy is giving up on producing competent instrument pilots, eh? Lotta good that HUD and glass time will do when those pilot hit the P-3 and C-130 fleets.
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I'd say I learned a lot more about flying instruments in a glass cockpit T-45C then I ever did on the single RMI card of the T-34C. Just sayin....
 
///AMG said:
I'd say I learned a lot more about flying instruments in a glass cockpit T-45C then I ever did on the single RMI card of the T-34C. Just sayin....
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I remember doing the good ole RMI pencil method flying direct from fix to fix in NFO training in the T-34. That was a great airplane. Were you saying they are selling 100+??? Hope those hit the civilian market.
 
aloft said:
So the Navy is giving up on producing competent instrument pilots, eh? Lotta good that HUD and glass time will do when those pilot hit the P-3 and C-130 fleets.
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Far as I know, becoming a competent instrument pilot doesn't come from primary but experience over the years. The T-6 > T-34 and finally the Navy is getting its together. I was just an IP in the T-34C and it has many flaws as an airplane, time to move on to a better platform. In addition, the P-3 is eventually going away, the glass cockpit P-8 is replacing it.

///AMG said:
...not TOO many ways to kill yourself in it.
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After 2 years of instructing in the T-34C, not sure I agree with that. You studs can creatively come up with ways to kill yourself and me if I weren't watching, intently!!
 
It is going to be nice for those Whiting students next year. Are they going to send the some of the T-34C to Corpus as they are replaced?

Probably reassuring that if you have to leave the aircraft you don't have to fear striking the horizontal stab on the way out.

aloft said:
So the Navy is giving up on producing competent instrument pilots, eh? Lotta good that HUD and glass time will do when those pilot hit the P-3 and C-130 fleets.
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How can you be the judge of military flight training? P-3s are becoming P-8s, the E-2D is in the pipeline, the Marines have the C-130J/MV-22/AH-1Z/UH-1Y, not to mention TAC AIR. Almost everything is getting or has glass cockpits. The T-34C is an awesome airplane, but from a student looking down the road, some 'military glass' would be nice and probably help down the road compared to steam guages.
 
granlistillo said:
I remember doing the good ole RMI pencil method flying direct from fix to fix in NFO training in the T-34. That was a great airplane.
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Believe it or not, I do pen method PTP's in the jet as well....they just have to be a little quicker (and it is easier to visualize on the HSI with a plan-line of course). Had to do it one time without TACAN, VOR, or GPS. Don't know how that worked out :)

2013 was the last date I heard for Corpus studs getting into the T-6. When I left TW-4 last January, they were just starting to lay the foundation for the new T-6 sim building so I'd guess it is on the way about on that timeline.

@ bunk, yeah I'm sure I have seen only a fraction of the scary stuff we have thrown at you IP's throughout the years.
 
aloft said:
So the Navy is giving up on producing competent instrument pilots, eh? Lotta good that HUD and glass time will do when those pilot hit the P-3 and C-130 fleets.
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P-3 has moved to EFDS which is a pseudo-glass cockpit. However I wouldn't bet money on the P-8 gents, as much as I would like the P-8 to come on line so we can grab up some more P-3s, the P-8 is going to be a victim to Obama much like Marine 1 and the F-22. Fact is the T-44 (C-90) had better instrumentation than the P-3 and I learned a lot more in advanced than primary for instrument skills.
 
mjg407 said:
However I wouldn't bet money on the P-8 gents, as much as I would like the P-8 to come on line so we can grab up some more P-3s, the P-8 is going to be a victim to Obama much like Marine 1 and the F-22
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That would surprise me quite a bit, given what I have heard and seen of it in the last couple years. It is a growing mission in a non-traditional sense (i.e. more than just ASW) and it seems as if the Navy brass knows it, at least from what I have observed. You could be right, but I guess only time will tell
 
Got some insider info from guys in the program, and the fact that we are tied with Lockheed and the Navy on P-3 sustainment. :)
 
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