First T-6A Texan II's arrive at Sheppard

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program's newest tool in training the future pilots of the NATO Alliance arrived Jan. 4.

Sheppard is the last Air Force base to begin receiving the next generation of introductory training aircraft, the T-6A Texan II.

Col. David Petersen, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, and Maj. Jeff Grayson, 97th Flying Training Squadron chief of training, traveled to Randolph AFB, Texas, to retrieve the first Texans in Sheppard's inventory.

"(This is a) great step forward for the ENJJPT program," Colonel Petersen said. "It's a more modern aircraft that will allow for better training. (The T-6) can do everything the T-37 can do and more."

Colonel Petersen said with its modern avionics, onboard global positioning system, built-in parachute and a pressurized cockpit, the Texan will provide a more seamless transition when it comes time for pilots to take flight in the T-38C Talon. The colonel is no stranger to the T-6A. He flew theT-6 during his time as the 47th Operations Group commander at Laughlin AFB, Texas.

It will take two years for the final T-6 to arrive, with the 80th FTW steadily replacing its aging T-37 Tweet fleet with 69 T-6's. Both of the new T-6's will be used to train Lier Siegler Service's Inc. maintenance personnel beginning Jan. 9, in preparation for the arrival of the first batch of training aircraft in March.

"This is a new era for ENJJPT and LSI maintainers," said Wayne Lewis, director of maintenance with LSI. "This is a modern trainer that is state of the art. It's a maintenance friendly aircraft and we're looking forward to it."

Mr. Lewis added this is the first time Sheppard has fielded a prop driven aircraft.

Aircraft upgrades aren't new for the 80th FTW. Its fleet of T-38's has gone through structural and instrumental modifications over the last three years, including an all digital, or "glass," cockpit. The T-38A first saw service in 1959; just a few years after the Tweet took off.

To help combat this in 2001 Air Education and Training Command began receiving new T-38C models, as part of the Avionics Upgrade Program. The new Talon's featured enhanced propulsion systems in addition to the new avionics and reinforced structural components.

While it's the beginning of an era for the T-6, Jan. 4 marked the beginning of the end for the venerable Tweet.

"A lot of people will miss the Tweet but it's time to move on," Colonel Petersen said. "Though many won't miss the extra sound," referring to the Tweet's distinctive, if not pleasant, noise.

The T-37 has been in service since 1955 with over 1,000 built.

On Feb. 5, 1996, Raytheon was awarded the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System acquisition and support contracts. JPATS is a suite of simulators, training devices and a training integration management system, including the T-6A. The first operational Texan arrived at Randolph AFB in May 2000.

The T-6A is used to train Joint Primary Pilot Training students and provides the basic skills necessary to progress to one of four training tracks: the Air Force bomber-fighter or the Navy strike track, the Air Force airlift-tanker or Navy maritime track, the Air Force or Navy turboprop track and the Air Force-Navy helicopter track.

Instructor pilot training in the T-6A began at Randolph AFB in 2000. JPPT began in October 2001 at Moody AFB, Ga.

(Information from www.af.mil was used in writing this article).