Hawker Beechcraft Sells More T-6 Trainers to U.S. Air Force

Hawker Beechcraft has apparently overcome quality-control problems in the manufacture of the T-6A Texan II turboprop trainer. The U.S. Air Force recently awarded the company two follow-on contracts worth $550 million for an additional 137 aircraft. Hawker Beechcraft has already delivered more than 380 aircraft under previous contracts awarded since 1995, when then-Raytheon Aircraft was selected for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) program. The manufacturer has secured two export customers for the T-6: the NATO Flying Training in Canada organization bought 26, and the Greek Air Force another 45.