T-2 Buckeye
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| T-2 Buckeye | |
|---|---|
 A T-2C Buckeye taking off from NAS Patuxent River |
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| Type | Trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | North American |
| Primary users | United States Navy Hellenic Air Force |
| Developed from | FJ Fury |
The North American T-2 Buckeye is the United States Navy's intermediate training aircraft, intended to introduce Student Naval Aviators to jets. It entered service in the late 1950s, though it is being replaced by the T-45 Goshawk.
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[edit] Design and development
The first version of the aircraft entered service in 1959 as the T2J-1. It was re-designated the T-2A in 1962 under the joint aircraft designation system. The two-seat trainer was powered by one Westinghouse J34-WE-46/48 turbojet engine. The aircraft was subsequently redesigned, and the single engine was replaced with two Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 turbojets in the T-2B. The T-2C was fitted with two much more powerful 2,950 lbf (13,100 N) thrust General Electric J85-GE-4 turbojets. The T-2D was an export version which was sold to the Venezuelan air force, while the T-2E was sold to the Greek Air Force. The T-2 Buckeye (along with the TF-8J) replaced the T2V-1/T-1A Seastar, though the T-1 would continue in some uses into the 1970s.
The Buckeye was designed as a low-cost multi-stage trainer. Its straight wing is similar to that used in the original North American FJ-1 Fury. Its cockpit controls are similar to the T-28C trainer. The T-2's performance is between that of the Air Force's T-37 Tweet, and the TA-4J Skyhawk, which was used for advanced training, including carrier takeoffs and landings. While it has no built-in armament, the T-2 has two underwing hardpoints for .50 in gun pods, 100 lb (45 kg) practice bombs or 2.75 in rockets.
All T-2 Buckeyes were manufactured by North American at Air Force Plant 85, located just south of Port Columbus Airport in Columbus, Ohio. 273 aircraft were built during its production run. The name Buckeye refers to the state tree of Ohio, as well as the mascot of the Ohio State University.
Virtually every Naval aviator from the late 1950's until 2004 received training in the T-2 Buckeye, a career spanning four decades. In the Naval Aviator syllabus, the T-2 has been replaced by the near-sonic T-45 Goshawk (the US Navy version of the BAE Hawk), which is more comparable to other high performance subsonic trainers, or the USAF T-38 Talon. More recently, the T-2 has been used as a director aircraft for aerial drones. Several T-2 Buckeyes are now registered in civilian markings and regularly appear at airshows.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (T-2C Buckeye)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- 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: 255 ft² (23.70 m²)
- Empty weight: 8,115 lb (3,652 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 13,180 lb (5,931 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric J85-GE-4 turbojets, 2,950 lbf (13 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 521 mph (834 km/h)
- Range: 910 mi (1,456 km)
- Service ceiling 44,400 ft (13,500 m)
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- T-2 Buckeye page on U.S. Navy History site
- T2J-l / T-2 Buckeye on GlobalSecurity.org
- Rockwell T-2 Buckeye page on AMARCExperience.com
- T-2C Buckeye Photo
- VT-4 Rubber Duck Hymnal
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