History

In 1956, the U.S. Navy awarded a contract to North American Aviation to design and build a new jet trainer aircraft, which would come to be known as the T-2 Buckeye. The T-2 was to be used for basic and advanced air combat and carrier operations training. Over the years there would be two major modifications to the original T-2A design, the T-2B, and the T-2C.

The early model T2-J1s (or T-2A's) entered service in July of 1959. The first cadets to carrier qualify in a T-2A did so aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Antietam (CV-36) on June 2, 1960.

The first of the upgraded T-2B's, now equipped with two engines to have their performance match more closely with the jet fighters of the day, entered service in December of 1965. The first T-2B carrier landing by a student was on September 2, 1966 on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexingtion (CV-16).

The third and final major modification came as the T-2C was introduced in 1968 with General Electric J85-GE-4 engines.

The last T-2 carrier landing was that of a T-2C on July 25, 2003, aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

A total of 609 T-2 aircraft were built. The T-2, although an excellent training aircraft, has a completely analog cockpit, and as such it has been phased out by the U.S. Navy in favor of the T-45 Goshawk, which has a state-of-the-art digital cockpit and has perfomance that closely matches modern fighter aircraft. The T-2 is stil in service with the Hellenic (Greek) Air Force and possibly the FAV (Venezuelan Air Force).

T-2B - S/N 155235

The known history of the Warbird Heritage Foundations T-2B is listed below.

1968 October Traron Four - NAS Pensacola - Delivery 1969 March Traron Nine - NAS Meridian - Service 1969 July Traron Four - NAS Pensacola - Service 1970 July Traron Nine - NAS Meridian - Service 1973 October Traron Ten - NAS Pensacola - Service 1975 September HQMC Washington, D.C. 1976 November Davis Monthan AFB - Storage Mid 1990's - 2002 Sanders Aviation, Alabama Restored by Victoria Air Maintenance, LTD. Sidney, BC Canada 2004 Warbird Heritage Foundation

Specifications

Mfr: North American Rockwell Model: T-2B Serial: 155235 Built: 1968 N-Number: N27WS Engines: Two Pratt and Whitney J60-P-6 turbojet Thrust: 3,000 lbs. each. Length: 38 ft. 8 in. Height: 14 ft. 9.5 in. Wingspan: 38 ft. 2 in. Weight: Empty: 8,115 lbs. Max Takeoff: 13,180 lbs. Performance: Range: 910 miles Ceiling: 44,400 ft. Max Speed: 521 Mph.

Photo by Xavier Meal
Photo and information courtesy of The Warbird Heritage Foundation