Tue, Apr 06, 2010
The Airplane Is Powered By A New Pratt & Whitney Canada
Engine
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) and Pratt & Whitney
Canada (P&WC) announced the successful first flight of the
second Beechcraft AT-6 production representative test vehicle
(PRTV) on Monday. The aircraft features a new P&WC PT6A-68D
engine with 1600 shaft horsepower (shp) that improves the overall
performance of the AT-6. The aircraft is a structurally
strengthened derivative of the highly successful U.S. Air Force
(USAF) and U.S. Navy (USN) T 6A/B trainer that will address the
mission needs of the USAF for a Light Attack and Armed
Reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft. The USAF is expected to launch an
acquisition program this year.
The integration of the PT6A-68D engine,
designed to improve aircraft performance over the first AT-6 PRTV,
was accomplished by the HBC-P&WC team in only nine months and
was executed concurrently with the first PRTV's A-10-based mission
avionics upgrade. The new T-6 derivative, while incorporating
structural improvements and increased electrical power generation
required for the LAAR mission, still retains approximately 95
percent overall commonality with the baseline T-6B.
"The AT-6 team has made remarkable progress in a very short time by
integrating proven low-risk technologies on both of our AT-6 test
vehicles," said Jim Maslowski, president, Hawker Beechcraft U.S.
and International Government Business. "I am especially proud of
how quickly the HBC-P&WC team responded to the challenge of
improving the performance of the AT-6 without sacrificing
commonality with the rest of the T-6 worldwide fleet. The enhanced
performance of the 1600 shp engine, when combined with our
demonstrated A-10C derivative mission avionics capabilities, offers
air forces around the world a LAAR aircraft that is unmatched in
the market."
"Pratt & Whitney Canada is proud to
be part of HBC's successful first flight of this exciting program.
Our engineering team has worked closely with HBC to ensure
P&WC's engine meets all expectations," said Michael Perodeau,
Vice President, Corporate Aviation and Military Engines, P&WC.
"The PT6A-68D is a member of the latest generation of our PT6
engine family, which totals over 25,000 engines in service today.
It incorporates advanced materials and aerodynamic technologies for
exceptional levels of performance and reliability."
The AT-6 is designed to be able to quickly transition pilots
between basic flight training missions and complex NetCentric LAAR
missions. The AT 6 incorporates the very best of proven training
and close air support capability to meet expected LAAR
requirements. The aircraft covers a wide mission spectrum that
includes training, manned Intelligence Surveillance and
Reconnaissance and light precision attack, while also offering
non-traditional capabilities for Homeland Defense, Homeland
Security and Civil Support missions.
HBC has been meeting the needs of U.S.
and foreign military customers around the world with trainer,
weaponized trainer and special mission aircraft, which are
currently in service in more than 50 nations. Today, all USAF and
USN student pilots train in a Hawker Beechcraft aircraft.
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