Hawker Beechcraft Launches T-6C Aerobatic Demonstration Team

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) launched its Beechcraft T-6 demonstration team this week at the Australian International Airshow. The team will perform single ship, low altitude aerobatics in a standard equipped T-6C military trainer at airshows throughout the coming year. The T-6C aerobatic team debuted at the Avalon Airport near Geelong, Victoria.

“Performing aerobatics in the T-6C is something that flows pretty naturally from the typical training syllabus for the airplane because it is so capable and versatile,” said Jim Maslowski, HBC president, U.S. and International Government Business. “It does allow us to demonstrate its handling and its superior performance in a pretty dramatic way. Safety remains paramount, but that will also be demonstrated by this program. The handling and rapid recovery of the airplane from each maneuver is also an important element in the training environment.”

Michael Rambo, HBC T-6 program manager, will fly the aerobatic programs, which will include four- point rolls, inverted flight, vertical rolls and Cuban eights during a 6-7 minute performance. Rambo is a veteran of the United States Air Force with more than 3,000 hours of flight time, including more than 800 hours in the T-6. The demonstration team will be supported by a crew chief and dedicated safety observer.

The aerobatic team’s 2011 tour will include performances at the Paris Air Show, as well as U.S. demonstrations at Andrews and Randolph Air Force Bases; Naval Air Stations in Patuxent, Maryland and Jacksonville and Pensacola, Florida; and air shows at Midland, Texas, and Wichita Kansas’ annual Flight Festival in August.