T-34 TO T-6 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION

Naval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF) supports primary flight training for Naval aviators using a variety of aircraft, including the single engine turboprop T-34, utilizing a number of Navy outlying landing fields (NOLFs) for mission training requirements (Figure 1). The T-6 has been selected as the new Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) aircraft for the combined joint military forces in the United States (US), and the first T-6 aircraft are scheduled to arrive at NASWF in 2009. The T-6 will gradually replace the T-34 between 2009 and 2015. The propellers of the T-6 cannot be reversed to slow the aircraft after landing, and the brakes/tires are not conducive for landings on fields suitable for the T-34; therefore, the T-6 requires a minimum safe runway length of 4,000 feet for dual operations and 5,000 feet for solo operations. By contrast, the T-34 requires only a 3,000-foot long runway for operations. In addition to the safe runway length, a 1000-foot long obstruction-free run-out safety zone (Type I Clear Zone) is required at the ends of the runway, with another 2,000 feet of clear airspace (Type III Clear Zone) beyond the run-out safety zone with no trees above the calculated approach/departure surface and no buildings.

COMPARISON
T-34C vs. T-6A
T-34
SPECIFICATIONS
T-6
280
Max Speed (Kts)
318
120
Approach Speed (Kts)
120
400
Range (NM)
850
25,000
Altitude (Feet)
31,000
425
Engine Power (SHP)
1100
4.5/-2.3
G Limits
7.0/-3.5
4400
Weight (Lbs)
6500
28'8"
Length
33'4"
33'5"
Span
33'5"
9'11"
Height
10'8"

Currently in the North Military Operating Area (MOA), there is one civilian NOLF that will meet T-6 landing requirements (Brewton), and Evergreen NOLF (also called Middleton Field), a civilian field, which is being modified to meet T-6 landing requirements. Both Brewton and Evergreen have general aviation (GA) traffic requiring restrictions for Navy use. Of the seven existing NOLFs available for use in the NASWF South MOA, only Choctaw NOLF, located on Eglin Air force Base, has a runway length and other capabilities suitable for T-6 operations, but it does not have a cross-wind runway; however, at least two NOLFs in the south MOA would be necessary for the transition to the T-6 aircraft in order to maintain the required training mission.