Beechcraft Defense Company has delivered the 800th Beechcraft T-6 – the most proven and cost-effective military training aircraft. The milestone aircraft was among two Beechcraft T-6Bs delivered this week to the United States Navy’s Training Air Wing 4 based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. Training Air Wing 4 has now received 16 of a total of 98 T-6Bs scheduled to replace an aged fleet of T-34 aircraft for primary flight training.

“As many military programmes have already discovered, the Beechcraft T-6B will enable the US Navy to train naval aviators at Corpus Christi more efficiently, more effectively and safer than ever before,” said Russ Bartlett, President, Beechcraft Defense Company. “Reaching the 800-aircraft milestone proves the versatility and durability of the Beechcraft T-6 trainer programme worldwide. Military programmes around the globe have accumulated more than 2 million flight hours using the T-6 to train pilots, navigators and weapons systems operators.”

The Beechcraft T-6B features an integrated glass cockpit and an advanced Esterline CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite that greatly expands advanced training opportunities. The systems are integrated with a hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS), providing the student pilot and instructor with a simpler interface to the digital cockpit. The CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite is the first in its class to incorporate a fully integrated and FAA-certified dual FMS/GPS navigation suite that meets the required navigation performance standards for current worldwide airspace equipment. The open architecture design of the Cockpit 4000 provides the flexibility to expand capabilities and continuously meet current and future training needs.