Hawker Beechcraft T-6C Trainer to Tour Australia

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced it has kicked off a five-week demonstration tour of Australian military training bases with its T-6C military trainer. The tour began this week at the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition at the Avalon Airport near Geelong, Victoria.

“This is a great opportunity for us to show the world’s most versatile and capable integrated pilot training system to a broad range of interested prospects from Australia and the Pacific Region,” said Jim Maslowski, HBC president, U.S. and International Government Business. “We have partnered with Raytheon Australia and BAE Systems Australia to bring excellent exposure to the robust capability, affordability and sustainability of the T-6C, which has already completed more than 15,000 miles on its journey to the region.”

The tour will include stops at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base at Williamtown, where Lead-In Fighter training for the BAE Hawk and JTAC training is conducted; Tamworth, where the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Basic Flying Training School is located, supported by BAE Systems Australia; ADF headquarters in Canberra, the national capitol; RAAF Base East Sale, home of the Central Flying School; and RAAF Base Pearce, home of the No. 2 Flying Training School.

In addition to the hard-point wings, the T-6C features an integrated glass cockpit and the advanced Esterline CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite that greatly expands advanced training opportunities. The systems are integrated with a Hands-On Throttle and Stick, 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.

The Beechcraft T-6 offers military organizations worldwide the most proven and most cost-effective training system available today. In addition to accommodating instruction in instrument flight procedures and basic aerial maneuvers, the T-6 delivers an outstanding training capability that is appropriate for the most basic introductory flight training through more challenging and complex advanced missions. To date, the aircraft has been used to train pilots in approximately 20 different countries.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.