Field Aerospace has completed a curtailed avionics refresh for 73 U.S. Air Force T-1A Jayhawk multi-engine trainers, the company said March 21.
The Air Force launched the program in 2019 with the intention of inducting all 178 T-1As in the Avionics Modification program, but later decided to end the upgrade program after completing 73 aircraft.
All T-1As are being retired over the next three years as the Air Force moves to a simulator-only curriculum for pilots bound to fly mobility aircraft such as the C-5, C-17, KC-46 and C-130.
For the avionics refresh, Field Aerospace installed the Collins Aerospace ProLine 21 avionics system, which includes a glass cockpit with four liquid crystal displays. The upgrade complies with an existing supplemental type certificate program for the Beech 400A, which is the civilian designation for the T-1A.
Although reduced in size, the project was still the largest of its kind completed by Field Aerospace, a maintenance, repair and overhaul company with U.S. operations based in Oklahoma City.
“We had done this type of work before, but not for the T-1A,” said Paul Berry, Field’s T-1A program manager. Collins, Nextant Aerospace and Flight Safety International participated in the program as subcontractors.
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