| T-2 Buckeye | |
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| T-2C Buckeye making an arrested landing | |
| Type | Trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | North American |
| Primary users | United States Navy Greek 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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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, including carrier takeoffs and landings. In the Naval Aviator syllabus, the T-2 has been replaced by the near-sonic T-45 Goshawk (the US Navy version of the BAe Hawk), which is more comparable to other high performance subsonic trainers, or the USAF T-38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. Since the late 1990s, flying students have started out on a turboprop propeller-driven aircraft, now the T-6A Texan II which was the winner of the JPATS program.
History
The Buckeye was designed as a low-cost multi-stage trainer. Its 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 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 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 much more powerful 2,950 lbf (13,100 N) thrust 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 T-2 has two underwing hardpoints for .50 in gun pods, 100 lb (45 kg) practice bombs or 2.75 in rockets. Several T-2 Buckeyes are now registered in civilian markings and regularly appear at airshows.
Operators
- Moroccan Air Force ordered 12 T-2 aircraft but the order was cancelled.
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)
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
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
Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
- pre 1962 Navy: TJ - T2J - T3J
- pre 1962 Navy: T2J - T2V
- post 1962 Tri-service: T-1 SeaStar - T-1 Jayhawk - T-2 - T-3 - (skips)- T-6
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