wbalogo.gif (14066 bytes)



[Back to Warbird Alley Main Page]


Fighter / Attack:
   Bell P-39 Airacobra
   Bell P-63 Kingcobra
   Brewster Buffalo
   Chance-Vought F-4U Corsair
   Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
   Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
   Douglas A-1 Skyraider
   Douglas A-26 Invader
   Douglas SBD Dauntless
   Fairey Firefly
   Focke-Wulf Fw 190
   Grumman F4F Wildcat
   Grumman F6F Hellcat
   Grumman F7F Tigercat
   Grumman F8F Bearcat
   Grumman TBF Avenger
   Hawker Hurricane
   Hawker Sea Fury
   Lockheed P-38 Lightning
   Messerschmitt Bf-109
   Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen
   North American P-51 Mustang

   Polikarpov I-16
   Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
   Supermarine Spitfire
   Yakovlev Yak-3
   Yakovlev Yak-9


Trainers:
  
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (C-45)
   Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
   Boeing / Stearman PT-17

   Commonwealth CA-25 Winjeel
   Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway
   DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
   DeHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth
   Fairchild PT-19 Cornell
   Hunting / Percival Provost
   Meyers OTW
   Nanchang CJ-6
   Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
   N. Am. BT-9 / BT-14 / Yale
   N. Am. T-6 Texan / SNJ / Harvard
   N. American T-28 Trojan

   Piaggio P149
   Ryan PT-22 Recruit

   Scottish Aviation T1 Bulldog
   Vultee BT-13 Valiant
   Yakovlev Yak-11
   Yakovlev Yak-18
   Yakovlev Yak-52


Bombers:
   Avro Lancaster
   Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
   Boeing B-29 Superfortress
   Bristol Blenheim / Bolingbroke
   Consolidated B-24 Liberator
   Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

   Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
   DeHavilland Mosquito
   Fairey Swordfish
   Heinkel He-111 / Casa 2.111

   Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon / Ventura
   Martin B-26 Marauder
   North American B-25 Mitchell


Transports:
   Beechcraft C-45 (AT-11)

   Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter (KC-97)
   Curtiss C-46 Commando
   Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Dakota
   Douglas C-54 Skymaster

   Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
   Fairchild C-123 Provider
   Grumman C-1 Trader (S-2)
   Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
   Lockheed C-69 Constellation


Utility / Observation / Special Duty:
   Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
   Aeronca L-16 Grasshopper
   Antonov AN-2 Colt
   Auster AOP 6/9
   Avro 652 Anson
   Avro Shackleton
   British Taylorcraft I-V
   Cessna L-19 / O-1 Bird Dog
   Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster
   Cessna T-50 / UC-78 Bobcat
   Consolidated PBY Catalina

   DeHavilland U-6A / L-20 Beaver
   Fairey Gannet
   Fairey Swordfish
   Fieseler Fi156 Storch
   Grumman S-2 Tracker (C-1)
   Grumman HU-16 Albatross
   Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
   Junkers Ju 52/3m

   Lockheed P2V Neptune
   Max Holste M.H.1521 Broussard
   Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

   Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
   North American L-17 Navion
   N. Am./ Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
   Piper L-4 Grasshopper
   Stinson L-5 Sentinel
   Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
   Westland Lysander


Jets:
   Aero L-29 Delfin
   Aero L-39 Albatros
   Aermacchi MB-326
   Avro Vulcan
   BAC Strikemaster
   Blackburn (BAC) Buccaneer
   Canadair Tutor
   Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
   DeHavilland Vampire
   DeHavilland Venom
   English Electric Canberra
   English Electric Lightning
   Folland Gnat
   Fouga CM-170 Magister
   Gloster Meteor
   Grumman F9F Panther
   Hawker Hunter
   Hispano HA-200 Saeta
   Hunting Jet Provost
   Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
   Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
   McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
   McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom
   Messerschmitt Me-262
   Mikoyan MiG-15
   Mikoyan MiG-17
   Mikoyan MiG-21
   N. Am. F-86 Sabre / FJ-4 Fury
   N. Am. F-100 Super Sabre
   N. Am. / Rockwell T-2 Buckeye
   Northrop T-38 Talon / F-5
   PZL / WSK TS-11 Iskra
   Saab J35 Draken
   Soko G-2A Galeb
   Temco Pinto & Super Pinto


[Back to Warbird Alley Main Page]

 

North American (Rockwell) T-2 Buckeye

(Variants/Other Names: T-2A/B/C/D/E; DT-2B/C)


North American Rockwell T-2 Buckeye
U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Darin K. Russell. 

History: When, in 1956, the U.S. Navy requested competitive designs for a new jet trainer capable of taking their student pilots through advanced combat flight categories such as gunnery, fighter tactics, bombing, and carrier qualification, North American Aviation emerged the winner with its design, which used proven features from operational North American aircraft like the FJ-1 Fury and T-28 Trojan. Skipping the prototype phase, North American (purchased by Rockwell, which was later purchased by Boeing) went straight to the pre-production stage, building six YT2J-1 aircraft for evaluation. Of mid-wing configuration, the aircraft had tandem LS-1 ejection seats for pupil (front) and instructor (rear). The instructor's seat was raised to provide a good view, with full dual controls so the aircraft could be controlled from either seat. The first of the YT2J-1s flew on January 31, 1958.

Built with student pilots in mind, the Buckeye, as it was called, had a strong, wide-based tricycle landing gear, powered controls, large trailing-edge flaps, air brakes on both sides of the fuselage, and a retractable arrester hook, all of which were hydraulically actuated. The YT2-J1 was powered by a single 3400-pound thrust Westinghouse J34-WE-48 fuselage-mounted turbojet, as were the initial T2J-1 production models (T2-A after 1962). 201 of this version were produced, the first entering service in July, 1959.


In August, 1962, the first of two YT2J-2 test aircraft were converted from T2J-1 configuration by replacing the single turbojet with two 3,000-pound thrust Pratt and Whitney J60-P-6 turbojets. This conversion was chosen to replace the T-2A, and the first of 97 new T-2B aircraft flew on May 21, 1965 and entered service in December, 1965 with Training Squadron VT-4 at Pensacola Naval Air Station.


Next, the T-2B was converted to a YT-2C for evaluation of the aircraft with two General Electric J85-GE-4 engines. This led to the manufacture of 231 T-2Cs with the GE powerplants for the U.S. Navy Training Command, with the first production model being flown on December 10, 1968.


A few T-2B and T-2C aircraft were converted for service as drone directors under the designations of DT-2B and DT-2C, respectively, while two additional variants of the T-2C were procured for the Venezuelan (T-2D) and Greek (T-2E) air forces. Capable of carrying a wide variety of training weapons packages on two wing mounts, the Buckeye could be upgraded to a six-mount status via an armament accessory kit that made the aircraft an effective light attack aircraft capable of carrying bombs, rockets and gun pods.


The Buckeye was well-designed for field maintenance conditions, with serviceable components installed at waist level or lower. Thus, the need for stands and ladders for most routine maintenance, including fueling, was eliminated.


While training more than 11,000 student pilots to fly 18 different models of Navy jet aircraft, the Buckeye established an outstanding record of safety and reliability for many years, but as the machine has aged it has developed some problems, being grounded for safety reasons three times in 1997 alone. After 41 years of service, the North American T-2 "Buckeye" jet trainer was phased out in favor of the Boeing/BAE T-45A "Goshawk." The final flight of the T-2 in U.S. military service was in 2015. At least two T-2s have made their way into civilian ownership.

Nicknames: Attack Guppy; Trusty Tubbyjet

Specifications (T-2C):
        Engine: One 2,950-lb thrust General Electric J85-GE-4 turbojet
        Weight: Empty 8,115 lbs., Max Takeoff 13,180 lbs.
        Wing Span: 38ft. 2in.
        Length: 38ft. 8in.
        Height: 14ft. 9.5in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 521 mph
            Ceiling: 44,400 ft.
            Range: 910 miles
        Armament: None

Number Built:  529

Number Still Airworthy:  At least two are privately-owned and operated as warbirds. The type is still operated by the Hellenic (Greek) Air Force in small numbers.

Links:
Aviation Enthusiast's Corner: T-2 Buckeye
Federation of American Scientists -- T-2 Buckeye page
Ken's Aviation Photography: T-2 photos
North American Company History (at Boeing.com) -- T-2 Page
Photovault T-2 Photo Page

Warbird Heritage Foundation's T-2 Buckeye

 

 

 


[Back to Warbird Alley's Main Page]


All text and photos Copyright 2015 The Doublestar Group, unless otherwise noted.
You may use this page for your own, non-commercial reference purposes only.