T-2 BUCKEYE

The 'North American T-2 Buckeye' is the United States Navy's intermediate training aircraft, introducing Student Naval Aviators to jets. It entered service in the late 1950s, though it is being replaced by the T-45 Goshawk.

Contents

Overview

History

Operators

Specifications (T-2C Buckeye)

Culture

Notes

External links

Related content

Overview

The T-2 is a straight-winged jet, with performance between that of the Air Force's T-37, and the TA-4 Skyhawk which was used for advanced training. In the Naval Aviator syllabus, the T-2 has been replaced by the near-sonic T-45 Goshawk (the US Navy version of the BAe Hawk), which is more comparable to other high performance subsonic trainers, or the USAF T-38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. The T-2 has been noted as one of the less elegant looking aircraft designs to be put into service (see culture section).
More recently the T-2 has been used as a director aircraft for aerial drones. Students start out on a turboprop propeller-driven aircraft- starting in late 1990s the JPATS winner T-6A Texan II.

History

The first version of the aircraft entered service in the mid-1950s 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 engine. The aircraft was subsequently redesigned, and the single engine was replaced with two Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 engines in the 'T-2B'. The 'T-2C' was fitted with two General Electric J85-GE-4 engines. The 'T-2D' was an export version which was sold to the Venezuelan air force. The 'T-2E' was another export version which was sold to the Greek Air Force. The T-2 Buckeye replaced the T2V-1/T-1A Seastar, though the T-1 would continue in some uses into the 1970s.
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.
While it has no built-in armament, the aircraft has a number of external hard points to carry armament, including gun pods, rockets, and bombs.
Several T-2 Buckeyes are now registered in civilian markings and regularly appear at airshows.

Operators

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★ Hellenic Air Force
;

★ United States Navy
;

★ Venezuelan Air Force
;

★ Moroccan Air Force ordered 12 T-2 aircraft but the order was cancelled.

Specifications (T-2C Buckeye)

Culture

From VT-4 Rubber Ducks Hymnal:^[1]
'GIVE ME OPERATIONS'

Don't give me a T-2 Buckeye, so ugly it makes aviators cry,

Flying it is no chore, but Christ what an eyesore,

Don't give me a T-2 Buckeye,

Notes

1. VT-4 Hymnal

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

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