The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined, turboprop aircraft currently built by Textron Aviation, formerly manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft Company. The T-6 is a license-built Pilatus PC-9, a trainer aircraft, and is known for being a cost-effective aircraft with a low operating cost. The T-6A is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and combat systems officer training, the United States Navy for primary and intermediate naval flight officer training, and by the Royal Canadian Air Force (CT-156 Harvard II), Greek Air Force, Israeli Air Force (Efroni), and Iraqi Air Force for basic flight training. The T-6B is used by the US Navy for primary naval aviator training, and the T-6C is used for training by the Mexican Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Moroccan Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. More than 1,000 T-6s serve in the militaries of 12 nations, plus two NATO schools.
The T-6 is a low-wing, cantilever monoplane with enclosed tandem seating. The aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop engine, delivering 1,100 horsepower. It has retractable tricycle landing gear and is fitted with Martin-Baker Mark 16 ejection seats and a canopy-fracturing system. The T-6 features a state-of-the-art, all-digital glass cockpit, providing advanced situational awareness. It is fully aerobatic, with a plus-7/minus-3.5-G limit, and is a 275-knot multi-role trainer. The T-6 has a wingspan of 33.5 feet, a length of 33.4 feet, a height of approximately 10.7 feet, a maximum speed of 586 km/h, a range of 1,700 km, and a service ceiling of 9,400 m.
Looking to buy?
Looking to sell?
What is the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II?
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined, turboprop aircraft. It is a license-built Pilatus PC-9, a trainer aircraft. Currently built by Textron Aviation, it was formerly manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft Company, which was sold to Textron in 2007. The original T-6 was developed in the 1990s and won the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System contract. That made it the common training platform for U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine pilots, and U.S. Navy. The T-6 Texan II is one of the most popular aircraft designed for training pilot students.
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a primary trainer for military aviators. It is a fully aerobatic, plus-7/minus-3.5-G, 275-knot multi-role trainer powered by a 1,100-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68 engine. The Beechcraft T-6C is a next-generation military trainer designed for all levels of instruction - from ab initio to advanced operational training.
The AT-6 Wolverine is a modified variant developed for light attack and armed reconnaissance missions. The Wolverine shares many features with the T-6C but is heavier, has more power, and is designed for combat in light attack and armed overwatch missions. The AT-6 is equipped with underwing hardpoints for carrying munitions, including rockets, machine guns, and precision-guided bombs. The T-6 Texan II is not certified for civilian use. It has features including the OBOGS, ejection seats, and weapons software.
What are the specifications of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II?
The specifications of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II are given in the table below.
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 33 ft |
| Wingspan | 33 ft |
| Height | 10 ft |
| Powerplant | PT6A-68 turboprop |
| Horsepower | 1100 shp |
| Speed | 320 mph |
| Range | 1000 miles |
| Ceiling | 31000 ft |
| G limit | +7.0 G |
| Weight empty | 4707 lb |
| Weight max | 6500 lb |
| Fuel | 149 gal |
| Propeller | 4 blades |
| Cockpit | Glass |
| Ejection seat | Yes |
| Hardpoints | 6 |
The T-6 Texan II has a length of 10.16 meters (33 feet 4 inches), a wingspan of 10.19 meters (33 feet 5 inches), and a height of 3.25 meters (10 feet 8 inches). The wing area is 177.5 square feet (16.49 square meters). Empty weight is 4,707 lb (2,135 kg), gross weight is 6,300 lb (2,858 kg), and the maximum takeoff weight is 6,500 lb (2,948 kg). Fuel capacity is 149 Imp gal (677.5 liters), which is 1,200 lb (544.3 kg).
The T-6 Texan II is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop engine, delivering 1,100 horsepower. It uses a four-bladed Hartzell propeller with a diameter of 8 feet 1 inch (2.46 meters). Cruise speed is 320 mph (510 km/h, 280 knots), and the maximum speed is approximately 316 knots (364 mph). The service ceiling is 31,000 feet (9,400 meters), and the g limits are +7.0g and -3.5g. The ferry range without external fuel tanks is 884 nautical miles, and with two external tanks it is 1,382 nautical miles. The aircraft has an endurance of over four hours and a climb of about 945 meters per minute (3,100 feet per minute).
The T-6C is purpose-built for military training and has Head-Up Display, a glass cockpit, HOTAS controls, and six screens for different jobs. It is equipped with ejection seats, a pressurised cockpit, an on-board oxygen generating system, and collision-avoidance and ground proximity warning systems. The aircraft has six hardpoints for weapons and drop tanks.
What engine powers the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II?
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop engine. This engine delivers the power and performance necessary to prepare military aviators for more advanced aircraft. It has an aluminum, 97-inch (8.1 ft, 2.5 m), four-blade, constant-speed, variable pitch, nonreversing, feathering propeller assembly. The powerplant has seen improvements in efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and increasing reliability.
The T-6A version uses the PT6A-68 engine, with 1,100 shaft horsepower (820 kW). The PT6A-68 has a maximum of 1,830 horsepower. The T-6C variant has a PT6A-68D engine, a turboprop engine made by Pratt & Whitney Canada. That engine has 1,600 horsepower and is part of the PT6A family.
What is the performance of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II?
The performance of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is given in the table below.
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| Cruise | 320 mph (515 km/h) |
| Max | 364 mph (586 km/h) |
| Range | 1,000 mi (1609.34 km) |
| Ceiling | 31,000 ft (9448.8 m) |
| Climb | 3,100 ft/min (944.88 m/min) |
| G | +7.0/-3.5 |
| Power | 1,100 hp PT6A-68 |
| Mach | 0.67 |
| Ferry | 884 nm |
The T-6 Texan II has a maximum speed of 316 knots (364 mph, 586 km/h) and a cruise speed of 320 mph (515 km/h, 280 knots). The aircraft can climb at 3,100 feet per minute (944.88 meters per minute), reaching 18,000 feet (5,486.4 meters) in less than six minutes. The service ceiling is 31,000 feet (9,449 meters). The Texan II has a ferry range of approximately 900 nautical miles (1,667 km) and an endurance of over four hours, providing ample time for training exercises. G limits are +7.0 and 3.5, making it a fully aerobatic multi-role trainer.
What is the price of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II?
The price of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II flyaway is $6 million. The Program Acquisition Unit Cost is $6.404 million per unit. The initial unit cost is $3.2 million. The T6A has a unit price of 4.3-6 million bucks. The T6C Texan II’s unit cost range is $3.66 million to $8 million.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
