The Boeing T-43 was a modified Boeing 737-200 used by the United States Air Force for training navigators, now known as USAF combat systems officers.
Informally referred to as ‘’the Gator’’ and “Flying Classroom”, nineteen of these aircraft were delivered to the Air Training Command at Mather Air Force Base, California during 1973 and 1974.
Two additional aircraft were delivered to the Colorado Air National Guard at Buckley Air National Guard Base and Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, in direct support of cadet air navigation training at the nearby U.S. Air Force Academy.
Two T-43s were later converted to CT-43As in the early 1990s and transferred to Air Mobility Command and United States Air Forces in Europe, respectively, as executive transports.
A third aircraft was also transferred to Air Force Materiel Command for use as the ‘Rat 55’ radar test bed aircraft and was redesignated as an NT-43A.
The T-43 was retired by the Air Education and Training Command in 2010 after 37 years of service.
Variants
T-43A
Model 737-253 powered by two JT8D-9 engines and provision for 3 instructors and 16 student navigators.
CT-43A
T-43As converted as staff or command transports.
NT-43A
One T-43A converted as a radar test bed aircraft.
Used to test the radar-absorbing qualities of stealth aircraft.
