UK Military Expands Fleet with Beechcraft and Embraer Aircraft

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) is updating its training fleet with airplanes from Beechcraft and Embraer. The UKMFTS aircraft are provided and maintained by Affinity Flying Training Services, which placed the recent orders through Textron Aviation and Embraer, but the airplanes will deliver with the United Kingdom’s roundel livery.

Textron Aviation announced the sale of 10 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainers, which will begin to deliver to Affinity around two years from now. The Texan IIs will replace Tucano T1 aircraft, modified versions of Embraer’s EMB-312 built by Shorts of Belfast, Northern Ireland, which the UKMFTS now uses for training.

The new T-6C incorporates an integrated glass cockpit that includes HUD capabilities and synthetic air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons training capabilities.

Embraer’s contracts with Affinity includes five Phenom 100 twinjets. The Phenoms will be used in the UKMFTS program for multiengine training through Ascent Flight Training.

Ascent will provide initial training in the Grob 120TP Perfect before the students will transition to either the Phenom or the Texan II depending on their operational designations.