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Textron has celebrated the delivery of the first two of up to 64 Multi-Engine Training System Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft contracted by the Naval Air Systems Command. The special mission aircraft were contracted by NAVAIR on Jan. 25, 2023 after an open competition.
The T-54A aircraft will replace the Chief of Naval Air Training fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. The special mission aircraft is a variant of the twin-engine and pressurized King Air 260. The T-54A will modernize the fleet and represent follow-on fleet aircraft. The current fleet aircraft the T-44, has been in service for over 40 years. The modern T-54A features an updated avionics suite and automation qualities that will better prepare students for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet.
"The T-54A benefits from an active Beechcraft King Air assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, where all required METS avionics and interior modifications are installed on the line; keeping costs down, aircraft conformity consistent across the fleet and optimizing the delivery schedule to the Navy," Textron Special Mission Sales VP Bob Gibbs said. "We are thrilled to continue our 47-year relationship of Textron Aviation aircraft conducting multi-engine flight training for Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Aviators."
The METS-specific capabilities include factory options for TACAN, angle-of-attack, V/UHF radio, digital audio system, engine trend monitoring, condition-based maintenance plus, observer/jump seat, passenger mission seats and full-face oxygen masks.
In early April, TRU Simulation + Training Inc. shared that Textron was awarded the NETS Ground Based Training System contract, providing the U.S. Navy with a fully integrated system of aircraft and training devices. The contract base award is for three Unit Training Device simulators in a King Air 260 standard configuration, one Operational Flight Trainer simulator in the METS T-54A configuration, one Simulator Support Station in the METS T-54A configuration and 21 Desktop Trainers for avionics training.
Textron provides government, military and commercial customers with solutions for critical missions. Textron aircraft provide high performance and flight characteristics that are often required for the unique challenges of special mission operations. With its unparalleled quality, versatility and low operating costs, Textron products are a top choice for air ambulance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, utility transport, aerial survey, flight inspection and training.
Over 7,700 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world in the last 60 years, making it the best-selling business turboprop family globally. The worldwide fleet has more than 62 million flight hours and has served in roles across all branches of the U.S. military and flown both commercially and in special mission roles all over the globe.
The King Air 260 has state-of-the-art technology in the cockpit and features technology like the Innovative Solutions andamp; Support ThrustSense Autothrottle system to support pilots in critical missions like delivering people or cargo. The software will manage engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, landing and go-around phases of flight. The enhancement can reduce pilot workload and has been designed to help prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp and over-torque conditions. The cockpit also features a digital pressurization controller to automatically schedule cabin pressurization during both the climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort. The pressurization gauges have been integrated with the Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck. The aircraft also includes the Collins Multi-Scan RTA04112 weather radar to provide pilots with a fully automatic system that has been optimized to detect short, mid and long-range weather.