The North American T-2 Buckeye was the United States Navy’s intermediate training aircraft, introduced to transition U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps student naval aviators and student naval flight officers from prop trainers to jet trainers.
It entered service in 1959, and was replaced in 2008.
Variants
T-2A
Two-seat intermediate jet training aircraft, powered by a 3,400-lb (1542-kg) thrust Westinghouse J34-WE-46/48 turbojet, original designation T2J-1 Buckeye, 217 built
YT-2B
Two T-2As were converted into T-2B prototype aircraft.
T-2B
Improved version, it was powered by two 3,000-lb (1360-kg) thrust Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 turbojets; 97 were built.
YT-2C
One T-2B was converted into a T-2C prototype aircraft.
T-2C
Final production version for the U.S. Navy, it was powered by two 2,950-lbf thrust General Electric J85-GE-4 turbojets; 231 were built.
DT-2B and DT-2C
Small numbers of T-2Bs and T-2Cs were converted into drone directors.
T-2D
Export version for Venezuela, 12 built
T-2E
Export version for Greece, 40 built
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
38 ft 3+1⁄2 in (11.671 m)
Wingspan
38 ft 1+1⁄2 in (11.621 m) (over tip tanks)
Height
14 ft 9+1⁄2 in (4.509 m)
Wing area
255 sq ft (23.7 m2)
Airfoil
NACA 64A212
Empty weight
8,115 lb (3,681 kg)
Max take-off weight
13,179 lb (5,978 kg)
Fuel capacity
691 US gal (575 imp gal; 2,620 L) total
Powerplant
2 × General Electric J85-GE-4 turbojets, 2,950 lbf (13.1 kN) thrust each