McDonnell Douglas/BAe T-45 Goshawk

Summary

Category Training aircraft
Origin country πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ United Kingdom πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States
First flight16 April 1988
Year of introduction1992
Number produced221 units
Average unit price$21 million

Description

The T-45 Goshawk is a training aircraft derived from the BAe Hawk, designed for training pilots in the US Navy and Marine Corps. It replaces the old T-2 Buckeye, which were retired from service in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Several modifications have been made to the Hawk to make it suitable for carrier operations, including structural reinforcement and landing gear enhancements, as well as the addition of an arresting hook and catapulting equipment.

The Goshawk is an integral part of the T-45 Training System, which includes a flight simulator, computer-assisted flight sessions, and the aircraft itself. The T45TS program replaces two training aircraft and a simulator for preparing pilots for the F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18F/E Super Hornet, AV-8B Harrier II Plus, and EA-6B Prowler.

Since 1997, the T-45C Goshawk has been equipped with a reconfigured cockpit featuring digital displays.

Technical specifications

Version: T-45A
Crew2 pilots
Operational range1850 km (1150 mi)
Maximum speed 1038 km/h (645 mph)
Wing area17.7 mΒ² (190.5 sqft)
Wingspan9.4 m (30.8 ft)
Height4.1 m (13.4 ft)
Length12.0 m (39.3 ft)
Service ceiling12954 m (42500 ft)
Empty weight4460 kg (9833 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight6387 kg (14081 lbs)
Climb rate40.6 m/s (133.2 ft/s)
Powerplant1 Γ— turbojet Rolls-Royce-Turbomeca F405-RR-401 delivering 2507 kgp
Ejection seatMartin-Baker Mk 14

Current operating countries

Country Units
United States United States 189

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

United States

Photo of T-45 Goshawk

Photo of T-45 Goshawk