T-2 Buckeye

From Free net encyclopedia

North American T-2C Buckeye
Image:T-2 Buckeye.jpg North American T-2C Buckeye making an arrested landing.
Description
Role	Naval trainer
Crew	2 (student and instructor)
First Flight
Entered Service
Manufacturer	North American Aviation
Dimensions
Length	38 ft 8 in	11 m
Wingspan	38 ft 2 in	10.3 m
Height	14 ft 9 in	4.5 m
Wing area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	8,115 lb	3,652 kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum takeoff	13,180 lb	5,931 kg
Powerplant
Engines	2 × General Electric J85-GE-4 turbojets
Thrust	2,950 lbf	13 kN
Performance
Maximum speed	521 mph	834 km/h
Combat range	910 miles	1,456 km
Ferry range	miles	km
Service ceiling	44,400 ft	13,500 m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns
Bombs
Rockets

The North American T-2 Buckeye is the United States Navy's intermediate and advanced training aircraft, introducing trainee naval aviators to jet power, carrier operations, and armaments. Students start out on a propeller-driven aircraft, historically the T-34C Turbomentor, but now (increasingly) the T-6A Texan II. The T-2 is also in the process of being replaced by the T-45 Goshawk (the US Navy version of the BAe Hawk).

The first version of the aircraft entered service in the mid-1950s as the T2J-1. It was redesignated the T-2A in 1962 under the joint aircraft designation system. The two-seat trainer was powered by one Westinghouse J34-WE-46/48 engine. The aircraft was subsequently redesigned, and the single engine was replaced with two Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 engines in the T-2B. The T-2C was fitted with two General Electric J85-GE-4 engines. The T-2D was an export version which was sold to the Venezuelan air force. The T-2E was another export version which was sold to the Greek Air Force.

These aircraft were manufactured by at the North American Aviation plant in Columbus, Ohio.

While it has no built-in armament, the aircraft has a number of strongpoints to carry external armament, including gun pods, rockets, and bombs.

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