Textron Aviation has delivered the first two of up to 64 Multi-Engine Training System Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft to NAVAIR with updated avionics suite and automation features, enhancing the training experience preparing for advanced fleet aircraft.
Textron Aviation has announced the delivery of the first two Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as part of a contract that could see up to 64 aircraft delivered. These deliveries mark a significant milestone in Textron Aviation’s partnership with NAVAIR and their commitment to providing advanced training solutions. The T-54A variant of the King Air 260 comes with an updated avionics suite and automation features, enhancing the training experience for students and better preparing them for advanced fleet aircraft.
The Beechcraft King Air 260, now designated as the T-54A, is set to replace the T-44C Pegasus aircraft in use by the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. This modernization effort is aimed at updating the fleet with more representative aircraft that align with follow-on fleet aircraft, as the T-44 has been in service for over four decades.
“The T-54A benefits from an active Beechcraft King Air assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, where all required METS avionics and interior modifications are installed on the line; keeping costs down, aircraft conformity consistent across the fleet and optimizing the delivery schedule to the Navy,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president for Special Missions Sales, Textron Aviation. “We are thrilled to continue our 47-year relationship of Textron Aviation aircraft conducting multi-engine flight training for Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Aviators,” he further added.
The METS-specific capabilities of the T-54A include factory options such as TACAN (Air-to-Air), angle-of-attack (AOA) indicators, V/UHF radio, digital audio system, engine trend monitoring, condition-based maintenance plus, observer/jump seats, passenger mission seats, and full-face oxygen masks.
In addition to the aircraft deliveries, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Textron Aviation, secured the METS Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) contract. This contract entails providing the U.S. Navy with a fully integrated training system comprising aircraft and training devices. The scope includes Unit Training Device (UTD) simulators, Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) simulators, Simulator Support Stations (SSS), and Desktop Trainers for avionics training, all tailored to the METS T-54A configuration.
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Textron Aviation’s special mission capabilities extend beyond military training, encompassing roles such as air ambulance, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), utility transport, aerial survey, flight inspection, and more. The Beechcraft King Air turboprop family, with over 7,700 deliveries globally since 1964, has established itself as the best-selling business turboprop family worldwide. Its versatility, low operating costs, and reliability have made it a preferred choice for various missions across military and commercial sectors, accumulating over 62 million flight hours in its six-decade history.
