In 1956, the US Navy issued a requirement for a jet-powered basic trainer to replace its T-28piston-engined aircraft. (Primary training for the US Navy remained the responsibility of the piston-engined Beechcraft T-34 Mentor while the jet-powered Lockheed T2V SeaStar provided more advanced training). North American Aviation won the US Navy's competition for the new training aircraft in mid-1956 with its NA-241 design.[3] North American's design, designated the T2J-1 by the US Navy, was a mid-winged monoplane with trainee and instructor sitting in tandem on North American-built ejection seats, with the rear (instructor's) seat raised to give a good view over the trainee's head. The aircraft's unswept wing's structure was based on that of the FJ-1 Fury, while its control system was based on the T-28C.[4] It was powered by a single Westinghouse J34-WE-46/48turbojet, rated at 3,400 lbf (15 kN).[5] While it had no built-in armament, the T2J-1 could accommodate two .50-inch gun pods, 100 lb (45 kg) practice bombs, or 2.75-inch rockets beneath the wings.[4] The T-2's performance was between that of the U.S. Air Force's Cessna T-37 Tweet and the U.S. Navy's TA-4J Skyhawk.
The first T2J-1 flew on 31 January 1958,[6] and the type entered service with Basic Training Group Seven, soon to become VT-7 at Naval Air Station Meridian in 1959. A second training group, VT-9 formed at Meridian in 1961.[7]
The first version of the aircraft entered service in 1959 as the T2J-1. It was redesignated the T-2A in 1962 under the joint aircraft designation system. The aircraft was subsequently redesigned, and the single engine was replaced with two 3,000 lbf (13,000 N) Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 turbojets in the T-2B. The T-2C was fitted with two 2,950 lbf (13,100 N) thrust General Electric J85-GE-4 turbojets. The T-2D and T-2E were export versions for the Venezuelan Air Force and Hellenic Air Force, respectively. The T-2 Buckeye (along with the TF-9J Cougar) replaced the T2V-1/T-1A SeaStar, though the T-1 continued in some uses into the 1970s.
Every jet-qualified Naval Aviator and virtually every Naval Flight Officer from the late 1950s until 2004 received training in the T-2 Buckeye, a length of service spanning over four decades. The aircraft first exited the Naval Aviator strike pipeline (where it saw its final carrier landings) in 2004,[8] and the Naval Flight Officer tactical jet pipeline in 2008. In the Naval Aviator strike pipeline syllabus and the Naval Flight Officer strike and strike fighter pipeline syllabi, the T-2 has been replaced by the near-sonic McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk (the U.S. Navy version of the BAE Systems Hawk), which is more comparable to other high-performance, subsonic trainers, or the supersonic U.S. Air Force Northrop T-38 Talon.[9] More recently, the T-2 has been used as a director aircraft for aerial drones. Several T-2 Buckeyes, although still retaining their USN markings, are now registered as civilian-owned aircraft with FAA "N" numbers; they regularly appear at airshows.[citation needed]
Two-seat intermediate jet training aircraft, powered by a 3,400-lb (1542-kg) thrust Westinghouse J34-WE-46/48 turbojet, original designation T2J-1 Buckeye, 217 built
YT-2B
Two T-2As were converted into T-2B prototype aircraft.
T-2B
Improved version, it was powered by two 3,000-lb (1360-kg) thrust Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 turbojets; 97 were built.
YT-2C
One T-2B was converted into a T-2C prototype aircraft.
T-2C
Final production version for the U.S. Navy, it was powered by two 2,950-lbf thrust General Electric J85-GE-4 turbojets; 231 were built.
DT-2B and DT-2C
Small numbers of T-2Bs and T-2Cs were converted into drone directors.
T-2D
Export version for Venezuela, 12 built
T-2E
Export version for Greece, 40 built
Operatorsedit
A T-2E Buckeye of the Hellenic Air force.A civilian-operated T-2B Buckeye[10] painted in United States Navy colorsCAPT Dan Ouimette, Commodore of TRAWING ONE, and CDR Paul Shankland, CO of VT-9, present the last T-2C to make a carrier arrested landing to the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola.Map with T-2 Buckeye operators in blue and former operators in red
T-2A Bu.156692 North American Buckeye on board USS Midway Museum in San Diego Ca. T-2A Bu.147474 North American Buckeye at Planes of Fame Air Museum Chino Ca. T-2C Bu.157050 North American Buckeye at Pima County Air Museum Tucson Az. T-2C Bu.158327 North American Buckeye at National Museum of Naval Aviation Pensacola Fl.
Specifications (T-2C Buckeye)edit
Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77.[12]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 38 ft 3+1⁄2 in (11.671 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 1+1⁄2 in (11.621 m) (over tip tanks)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to North American T-2 Buckeye.
T-2 Buckeye page on U.S. Navy History site
T2J-l / T-2 Buckeye on GlobalSecurity.org
(archived on 21 May 2013)
January 01, 1970
north, american, buckeye, united, states, navy, intermediate, training, aircraft, intended, introduce, navy, marine, corps, student, naval, aviators, student, naval, flight, officers, jets, entered, service, 1959, beginning, replacement, process, lockheed, sea. The North American T 2 Buckeye was the United States Navy s intermediate training aircraft intended to introduce U S Navy and U S Marine Corps student naval aviators and student naval flight officers to jets 1 It entered service in 1959 beginning the replacement process of the Lockheed T2V SeaStar and was itself replaced by the McDonnell Douglas T 45 Goshawk in 2008 2 T 2 Buckeye A T 2C Buckeye from VT 9 Role Jet trainer National origin United States Manufacturer North American AviationNorth American Rockwell First flight 31 January 1958 1 Introduction November 1959 2 Retired United States Navy 2008 2 Status Active service with Hellenic Air Force Primary users United States Navy historical Hellenic Air ForceVenezuelan Air Force historical Produced 1958 1970 Number built 529 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 3 1 Current operators 3 2 Former operators 4 Aircraft on display 5 Specifications T 2C Buckeye 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDesign and development editIn 1956 the US Navy issued a requirement for a jet powered basic trainer to replace its T 28 piston engined aircraft Primary training for the US Navy remained the responsibility of the piston engined Beechcraft T 34 Mentor while the jet powered Lockheed T2V SeaStar provided more advanced training North American Aviation won the US Navy s competition for the new training aircraft in mid 1956 with its NA 241 design 3 North American s design designated the T2J 1 by the US Navy was a mid winged monoplane with trainee and instructor sitting in tandem on North American built ejection seats with the rear instructor s seat raised to give a good view over the trainee s head The aircraft s unswept wing s structure was based on that of the FJ 1 Fury while its control system was based on the T 28C 4 It was powered by a single Westinghouse J34 WE 46 48 turbojet rated at 3 400 lbf 15 kN 5 While it had no built in armament the T2J 1 could accommodate two 50 inch gun pods 100 lb 45 kg practice bombs or 2 75 inch rockets beneath the wings 4 The T 2 s performance was between that of the U S Air Force s Cessna T 37 Tweet and the U S Navy s TA 4J Skyhawk The first T2J 1 flew on 31 January 1958 6 and the type entered service with Basic Training Group Seven soon to become VT 7 at Naval Air Station Meridian in 1959 A second training group VT 9 formed at Meridian in 1961 7 The first version of the aircraft entered service in 1959 as the T2J 1 It was redesignated the T 2A in 1962 under the joint aircraft designation system The aircraft was subsequently redesigned and the single engine was replaced with two 3 000 lbf 13 000 N Pratt amp Whitney J60 P 6 turbojets in the T 2B The T 2C was fitted with two 2 950 lbf 13 100 N thrust General Electric J85 GE 4 turbojets The T 2D and T 2E were export versions for the Venezuelan Air Force and Hellenic Air Force respectively The T 2 Buckeye along with the TF 9J Cougar replaced the T2V 1 T 1A SeaStar though the T 1 continued in some uses into the 1970s nbsp A T 2C being parked at Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida on August 30 2005 All T 2 Buckeyes were manufactured by North American at Air Force Plant 85 located just south of Port Columbus Airport in Columbus Ohio A total of 609 aircraft were built during the production run The name Buckeye refers to the state tree of Ohio as well as the mascot of Ohio State University Every jet qualified Naval Aviator and virtually every Naval Flight Officer from the late 1950s until 2004 received training in the T 2 Buckeye a length of service spanning over four decades The aircraft first exited the Naval Aviator strike pipeline where it saw its final carrier landings in 2004 8 and the Naval Flight Officer tactical jet pipeline in 2008 In the Naval Aviator strike pipeline syllabus and the Naval Flight Officer strike and strike fighter pipeline syllabi the T 2 has been replaced by the near sonic McDonnell Douglas T 45 Goshawk the U S Navy version of the BAE Systems Hawk which is more comparable to other high performance subsonic trainers or the supersonic U S Air Force Northrop T 38 Talon 9 More recently the T 2 has been used as a director aircraft for aerial drones Several T 2 Buckeyes although still retaining their USN markings are now registered as civilian owned aircraft with FAA N numbers they regularly appear at airshows citation needed Variants edit nbsp A T 2A of VT 7 on USS Antietam in the early 1960s T 2A Two seat intermediate jet training aircraft powered by a 3 400 lb 1542 kg thrust Westinghouse J34 WE 46 48 turbojet original designation T2J 1 Buckeye 217 built YT 2B Two T 2As were converted into T 2B prototype aircraft T 2B Improved version it was powered by two 3 000 lb 1360 kg thrust Pratt amp Whitney J60 P 6 turbojets 97 were built YT 2C One T 2B was converted into a T 2C prototype aircraft T 2C Final production version for the U S Navy it was powered by two 2 950 lbf thrust General Electric J85 GE 4 turbojets 231 were built DT 2B and DT 2C Small numbers of T 2Bs and T 2Cs were converted into drone directors T 2D Export version for Venezuela 12 built T 2E Export version for Greece 40 builtOperators edit nbsp A T 2E Buckeye of the Hellenic Air force nbsp A civilian operated T 2B Buckeye 10 painted in United States Navy colors nbsp CAPT Dan Ouimette Commodore of TRAWING ONE and CDR Paul Shankland CO of VT 9 present the last T 2C to make a carrier arrested landing to the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola nbsp Map with T 2 Buckeye operators in blue and former operators in red Current operators edit nbsp Greece Hellenic Air Force Former operators edit nbsp United States United States Navy nbsp Venezuela Bolivarian Military AviationAircraft on display edit nbsp T 2 Buckeye on display at the Texas Air Museum in Slaton Texas158599 on static display at the Texas Air Museum in Slaton Texas on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum 11 T 2A Bu 156692 North American Buckeye on board USS Midway Museum in San Diego Ca T 2A Bu 147474 North American Buckeye at Planes of Fame Air Museum Chino Ca T 2C Bu 157050 North American Buckeye at Pima County Air Museum Tucson Az T 2C Bu 158327 North American Buckeye at National Museum of Naval Aviation Pensacola Fl Specifications T 2C Buckeye editData from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1976 77 12 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 38 ft 3 1 2 in 11 671 m Wingspan 38 ft 1 1 2 in 11 621 m over tip tanks Height 14 ft 9 1 2 in 4 509 m Wing area 255 sq ft 23 7 m2 Airfoil NACA 64A212 Empty weight 8 115 lb 3 681 kg Max takeoff weight 13 179 lb 5 978 kg Fuel capacity 691 US gal 575 imp gal 2 620 L total Powerplant 2 General Electric J85 GE 4 turbojets 2 950 lbf 13 1 kN thrust each Performance Maximum speed 453 kn 521 mph 839 km h at 25 000 ft 7 600 m Stall speed 86 6 kn 99 7 mph 160 4 km h Range 909 nmi 1 046 mi 1 683 km Service ceiling 40 400 ft 12 300 m Rate of climb 6 200 ft min 31 m s See also editRelated development North American FJ 1 Fury Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Douglas TA 4J Skyhawk Fouga CM 175 Zephyr Lockheed T2V SeaStar McDonnell Douglas T 45 GoshawkReferences edit a b T 2 Buckeye Boeing Archived from the original on 21 May 2013 Retrieved 16 March 2013 a b c Farewell Buckeye defensetech org Archived from the original on August 14 2008 Retrieved August 13 2008 Air International October 1973 pp 163 164 a b Air International October 1973 p 164 Air International October 1973 pp 164 166 Air International October 1973 p 165 Air International October 1973 p 167 Gunsallus U S Navy photo by Ens April 4 April 2004 040409 N 1914G 002 The Buckeye Stops Here PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2010 07 14 Retrieved 2012 07 07 FAA Record for N27WS Archived from the original on 2012 02 17 T 2 Texas Air Museum Archived from the original on 2022 11 11 Retrieved 2022 11 11 Taylor 1976 pp 368 369 Rockwell Buckeye Success the second time round for the T 2 Air Enthusiast October 1973 Volume 5 Number 4 pp 163 169 Taylor John W R Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1976 77 London Jane s Yearbooks 1976 ISBN 0 354 00538 3 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to North American T 2 Buckeye T 2 Buckeye page on U S Navy History site T2J l T 2 Buckeye on GlobalSecurity org Boeing T 2 History Page archived on 21 May 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North American T 2 Buckeye amp oldid 1214640167, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
