UK MFTS Fixed Wing Flying Training : The Future

[Bob Viking]

Whilst I can only agree that 10 Texans seems a little on the conservative side, you are of course assuming the course will be the same as it always has been. That may not be a fair assumption.
BV

[Ken Scott]

A fair point BV & I believe the intention is to do much of what was traditionally done on the BFJT cse on the Tucano on the 'Prefect' syllabus given that types greater complexity.

[devonianflyer]

Originally Posted by Ken Scott

A fair point BV & I believe the intention is to do much of what was traditionally done on the BFJT cse on the Tucano on the 'Prefect' syllabus given that types greater complexity.

Then how can 23 'Prefects' replace the ~25 Tutors required on the line each day for the current EFT, let alone any down loaded BFJT work. The numbers really really don't add up for me.

Unless of course Grob/Ascent/Affinity have guaranteed the Prefect will never break or need routine maintenance...

[CoffmanStarter]

Also ... at the other end of the of the FJ training 'machine' ...

The T6C is to be the feed-in to the Hawk T2. But in this brave new MFTS World FJ Bloggs won’t have got his or her hands on a jet as yet. So if the T6C is to replace the Hawk T1, will there be a need to start FJ Bloggs earlier on the Hawk T2 … ergo more Hawk T2’s will be needed ?

[Lima Juliet]

The Grob 120TP is to be called 'Prefect' - what a sh!te name....

[Ken Scott]

At the risk of sounding like a spokesperson for Ascent, which I'm not, I believe the intent is to use the Texan to bridge the gap between the Prefect & the T2 in performance terms with advanced simulation to ease the transition, not to replace the T1. The Prefect cse would cover more than the old Tutor/ Bulldog/ Chipmunk syllabi so they are not really equivalent, the Texan I guess doing higher speed LL Nav & higher energy manoeuvres.

Personally I think the RAF & the other services could've done it better themselves for the £3 billion the PFI will cost but the projected 'saving' of £1billion was obviously too good to resist coupled with the post-RAF career opportunities for a few VSOs.

[Bob Viking]

Coffman

I'm afraid you and a few others betray your slight lack of knowledge on the subject. The T6C is not intended to replace the Hawk T1. Students currently move from Tucano straight to Hawk T2. IV Sqn is 208 and 19 Sqns in old money. There never has been a Hawk T1 transition to Hawk T2.

The T6C will replace the Tucano with a shorter course.

I hope I have now spelt it out in obvious enough terms.

Whether the numbers of airframes are sufficient is for the bean counters to work out. I'm just the pilot!

BV

[CoffmanStarter]

Thanks Bob ... Understood

[LlamaFarmer]

No matter how the course is, that's surely not enough aircraft.

Unless they DO now bring in the Hawk T1 between Texan and T2 to bridge the gap

[Jerry Atrick]

Hawk T1 OSD still 2020, so that won't work.

[Thomas coupling]

Couple of Q's for someone:
Why is the T6 simulator now not going to Valley?

What about MFTS (RW)? Any update?

TC

[Bob Viking]

Regardless of the Hawk T1 OSD there would be absolutely no sense, now or ever, flying a bridging course on a T1 before flying a T2.

Try looking at it as a whole package (Prefect, Texan and T2) rather than trying to relate it to its predecessor. Times are moving on. We move with them or move aside.

BV

[Hueymeister]

So will the MoD retain the Tutor?

[chopper2004]

That was my next question what will be the UAS's mount now? Laughingly the Kiwis have more T-6 than us, by one airframe

Btw will 45(R) continue their display team after the introduction of the Phenom? I saw the Emirates Academy Phenom 100 perform at DAS2015 (my photos below)

















cheers

[LlamaFarmer]

Originally Posted by Bob Viking

Regardless of the Hawk T1 OSD there would be absolutely no sense, now or ever, flying a bridging course on a T1 before flying a T2

Not sure about the others, but mine was a comment of throwaway sarcasm about how few a/c they were getting and having to supplement them with a T1 bridge course

[Davef68]

I had hoped (on a heritage basis) the T6C would be called Harvard.

[A and C]

From the aircraft numbers it would seem there is to be a large reliance on simulators.

Only time will tell if this is a good thing for crew training, but no doubt the bean counters have decided already it's worth a try.

[chopper2004]

Davef68

The Canadians call theirs the Texan II

CT-156 Harvard II | Trainer | Aircraft | Royal Canadian Air Force

cheers

[Davef68]

Yes, I had hoped we would follow suit. And given the Phenom a suitable scholarly name.

[Lynxman]

The T6 can't be called Harvard as there is still a Harvard active on the military register.