Beechcraft T-6C military trainer finds success in New Zealand as Air Force stands up pilot training capability

Beechcraft Defense Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced in coordination with CAE and Safe Air Ltd that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) have completed the introduction of New Zealand's new military pilot training capability only two years after signing the initial contract between Beechcraft Defense Company and the NZDF.  New Zealand's next generation of military pilots will be training in 11 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft delivered to the NZDF only 16 months after program initiation.

“We applaud the New Zealand Defence Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force for standing up this impressive program with the support of industry-leading partners,” said Tom Hammoor, president, Beechcraft Defense Company. “New Zealand joins a family of the world's finest air forces training in the T-6C platform, which combines intuitive handling characteristics and superior engine systems to provide critical training capability for student pilots.”

The value of every hour spent flying is increased by preparation and instruction received from CAE’s T-6C Ground-Based Training System (GBTS).  The T-6C GBTS includes classroom training using newly developed courseware and curriculum, as well as simulator training using two high-fidelity T-6C operational flight trainers.

In addition to the training devices, onsite contractor maintenance and logistics support for the fleet of T-6C aircraft is provided by a team comprised of Beechcraft and Safe Air experienced personnel. This team has been providing support at the RNZAF Base Ohakea since the first aircraft were delivered in 2014. CAE is also providing maintenance and support services for the flight simulators.

“The expertise and commitment of the maintenance team on the ground in New Zealand ensures the RNZAF T-6 fleet will continue to deliver the operational rates required to fulfill the training demands for decades to come,” said Hammoor.  

Strength of the T-6 platform

To date, Beechcraft has delivered more than 900 T-6 trainers, which have amassed more than 2.6 million flight hours. The Beechcraft T-6 delivers world-class training capability and is ideally suited for teaching the most basic introductory flight training tasks through the more challenging and complex advanced training missions that could previously only be accomplished in far more expensive jet aircraft. The T-6 is being used to train the pilots, navigators, and weapons systems operators of more than 20 countries around the world.

Image: New Zealand aircraft