Canadian Warplanes 5: Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II

Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II

(RCAF Photo)

Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II trainers in service with the RCAF.

The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company (which became Hawker Beechcraft and later Beechcraft Defense Company, and was bought by Textron Aviation in 2014). A trainer aircraft based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 has replaced the United States Air Force's Cessna T-37B Tweet and the United States Navy's T-34C Turbo Mentor. The T-6A is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and Combat Systems Officer (CSO) training, the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps for primary Naval Aviator training and primary and intermediate Naval Flight Officer (NFO) training, and by the Royal Canadian Air Force (CT-156 Harvard II designation), Greek Air Force, Israeli Air Force (with the "Efroni" nickname), and Iraqi Air Force for basic flight training. The T-6B is the primary trainer for U.S. student naval aviators (SNAs). The T-6C is used for training by the Mexican Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Moroccan Air Force, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The CT-156 Harvard II is a variant used for pilot instruction in the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC), located at 15 Wing, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. They are leased to the Royal Canadian Air Force by the program's administrator, CAE. NFTC's Harvard II aircraft are almost identical in cockpit layout and performance to the American JPATS Texan IIs. Within NFTC, students fly the Harvard II in Phase 2 and 3 of the training program, and some will go on to fly the CT-155 Hawk jet trainer also used by NFTC for Phase 4 (Moose Jaw) and Phase 5 Fighter Lead-In Training (4 Wing, Cold Lake, Alberta). NFTC had 25 Harvard II aircraft owned and maintained by Bombardier, although one was lost following a non-fatal crash in 2011. CAE took over the program in 2015. (Wikipedia)

Raytheon CT-156 Pilatus PC-9 Harvard II (26), (Serial Nos. 156101-156126).

(Balon Greyjoy Photo)

Raytheon CT-156 Pilatus PC-9 Harvard II (Serial No. 156125), 2014.

(Tyler Brenot Photo)

Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II trainers in service with the RCAF.

(Christian Coulombe Photo)

Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II, (Serial No. 156105) trainer in service with the RCAF.

(DND Photo)

Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II, (Serial No. 156115).

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