Raytheon Texan 2

Single Turboprop· 446 globally registered

The Beechcraft T-6A Texan II is the primary flight trainer for the United States Air Force and Navy, a single-engine turboprop that replaced the venerable T-37 Tweet and T-34 Mentor beginning in the early 2000s. Built by Beechcraft (now Textron Aviation) and derived from the Swiss Pilatus PC-9, the T-6A was selected through the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System competition in 1995 and entered service in 2000. It represents a generational leap in training capability, combining a glass cockpit with heads-up display, ejection seats, and a pressurized cabin, features that better prepare student pilots for modern fast jets and transports. The aircraft's 1,100-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68 engine delivers performance that bridges the gap between initial flight training and advanced tactical aircraft, with a top speed around 270 knots and service ceiling of 31,000 feet. The T-6A can pull +7/-3.5 G and perform aerobatic maneuvers including loops, rolls, and spins, giving students genuine tactical maneuvering experience. Beyond the U.S. military, the Texan II has been exported to more than a dozen allied air forces including Greece, Israel, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where it serves as the backbone of NATO Flying Training in Canada. The type has proven exceptionally reliable in the demanding training environment, logging millions of flight hours across thousands of sorties annually at bases like Vance AFB, Laughlin AFB, and NAS Whiting Field. SkyMeter has tracked 2,921 flights across 428 airframes and 2 operators, with TEXTRON AVIATION INC the largest observed operator.