The US Navy has declared that its Raytheon T-6 Texan basic trainer has reached initial operational capability. Training Wing 6 (TRAWING 6) at NAS Pensacola, Florida, is taking the USN's initial T-6s to replace Beech T-34C Turbo Mentors. It has 16 aircraft, and is receiving two a month. It is due to complete the transition to the new aircraft by 2006, when it will have 58 Texans on strength. TRAWING5 at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, will also make the transition to the T-6. The USN received its first T-6 in November last year, which was followed by the training of the initial instructor cadre. Academic training for student pilots began at the end of June. Meanwhile, the USN last month flew its last Rockwell T-2C Buckeye aircraft carrier qualification sortie. The T-2 advanced trainer has been replaced by the Boeing T-45 Goshawk.
Source: Flight International
