U.S. Navy's new trainer debuts at Farnborough airshow

Inheriting a modern avionics and navigation suite from its commercial stablemate, the T-54A has been adapted to the Navy’s METS requirement with commercial off-the-shelf items. It features a cockpit that seats three (handling/non-handling pilots and instructor), each with radio and full-face oxygen mask provision. There is no cockpit divide, so passengers can view flight deck operations.

The T-54 can have TACAN navigation and V/UHF radios, and it is the first King Air variant to feature an angle-of-attack monitoring/warning system—an important requirement for a military multi-engine trainer.

Another feature—an optional datalink that transmits aircraft data to the ground—allows for real-time maintenance tracking. This streamlines and accelerates responses to maintenance issues encountered when operating away from its home base. The downlinked data, along with imagery from cockpit video cameras, can also replay sorties during post-mission debriefs.

In May, Canada announced it had chosen the King Air 260 METS for multi-engine/asymmetric power training under its Future Aircrew Training requirement. Seven aircraft are to be supplied via SkyAlyne consortium led by CAE and KF Aerospace.

Canada’s “T-54 Plus” aircraft will feature additional specific capabilities such as compatibility with night vision goggles and anti-icing systems required in Canadian climates. These additions highlight Textron’s ability to tailor aircraft through commercially available factory options.

The U.S. Navy’s adoption of the T-54 has generated considerable interest in Europe where several air arms want to replace aging multi-engined trainers and operate King Air-based special missions aircraft for which the 260 METS would serve as an ideal training partner.