T-2 formation practice photo 253

[Pensacola Beachcomber]

Over the Gulf of Mexico aircraft from VT-86 practice for a commemorative
flyover of the Naval Air Station Pensacola Sherman Field in honor of the
50th anniversary of the first flight on the T-2 Buckeye series aircraft on
January 31, 1951.

This practice was on January 30. Unfortunately, the weather precluded a
flyover on the 31st.
The photos in this series were taken by the VT-86 Safety Officer, LT Brendan
O'Brien, who was in a chase plane.

[Pensacola Beachcomber]

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:

The Buckeye was designed as a low-cost multi-stage trainer. Its wing is
similar to that used in the original North American FJ-1 Fury. Its cockpit
controls are similar to the T-28C trainer.

The first version of the aircraft entered service in 1959 as the T2J-1. It
was re-designated the T-2A in 1962 under the joint aircraft designation
system. The two-seat trainer was powered by one Westinghouse J34-WE-46/48
engine. The aircraft was subsequently redesigned, and the single engine was
replaced with two Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 engines in the T-2B. The T-2C was
fitted with two much more powerful 2,950 lbf (13,100 N) thrust General
Electric J85-GE-4 engines. The T-2D was an export version which was sold to
the Venezuelan air force. The T-2E was another export version which was sold
to the Greek Air Force. The T-2 Buckeye replaced the T2V-1/T-1A Seastar,
though the T-1 would continue in some uses into the 1970s.

All T-2 Buckeyes were manufactured by North American at Air Force Plant 85,
located just south of Port Columbus Airport in Columbus, Ohio. 273 aircraft
were built during its production run.

The name Buckeye refers to the state tree of Ohio, as well as the mascot of
the Ohio State University.

Virtually every Naval aviator from the late 1950's until 2004 received
training in the T-2 Buckeye, a career spanning four decades.

While it has no built-in armament, the T-2 has two underwing hardpoints for
..50 in gun pods, 100 lb (45 kg) practice bombs or 2.75 in rockets.

Several T-2 Buckeyes are now registered in civilian markings and regularly
appear at airshows.

"Bob Moore" > wrote in message
46.128...
> Pensacola Beachcomber wrote
>>
>> Over the Gulf of Mexico aircraft from VT-86 practice for a
>> commemorative flyover of the Naval Air Station Pensacola Sherman Field
>> in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first flight on the T-2
>> Buckeye series aircraft on January 31, 1951.
>
> Was the Buckeye really first flown that long ago? I went through
> Pensacola in 1958 and there was no word of it being in the works.
>
> I did fly a "T-2" in 1959, but it was a Lockheed T2V-1 SeaStar, a
> modified T-33 with a humpback canopy and a tailhook. I believe
> that it was later re-designated the T-1A.
>
> Bob Moore
> PreFlight Class 12-58
> T-34, T-28, T2V, S2F

[Randy Wilson]

Fifty years ago would have been 1958 not 1951. Just FYI.

Randy

"Pensacola Beachcomber" > wrote in
message ...
>
> Over the Gulf of Mexico aircraft from VT-86 practice for a commemorative
> flyover of the Naval Air Station Pensacola Sherman Field in honor of the
> 50th anniversary of the first flight on the T-2 Buckeye series aircraft on
> January 31, 1951.
>
> This practice was on January 30. Unfortunately, the weather precluded a
> flyover on the 31st.
> The photos in this series were taken by the VT-86 Safety Officer, LT
> Brendan O'Brien, who was in a chase plane.
>
>

[Pensacola Beachcomber]

Hate to say it.....and I've said it before: "I can't type." The math is
right, the fingers are not doing what they're su[[osed to do. Oops,
supposed to do....

I got a whole bunch of those fotos from the start up on the ramp to the
flyover. LT O'Brien even took shots on the ramp before they closed the
canopy. One image includes the three photographers who were on the ramp.
I'm the tall one if you ever see the series. I know the images went to the
Navy public affairs people. There should be some good articles in different
magazines and on the Internet soon.

I bet the Navy writers get both the math and the typing correct, Tom


"Ancient Mariner" > wrote in message
...
> A-ha! Simple math strikes again..that clears EVERYTHING up!
>

[Bob Harrington]

"Randy Wilson" > wrote in
:

> Fifty years ago would have been 1958 not 1951. Just FYI.
>
> Randy

"Math is hard! Let's go to the mall!"
- Barbie

=)

> "Pensacola Beachcomber" >
> wrote in message ...
>>
>> Over the Gulf of Mexico aircraft from VT-86 practice for a
>> commemorative flyover of the Naval Air Station Pensacola Sherman
>> Field in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first flight on the T-2
>> Buckeye series aircraft on January 31, 1951.
>>
>> This practice was on January 30. Unfortunately, the weather
>> precluded a flyover on the 31st.
>> The photos in this series were taken by the VT-86 Safety Officer, LT
>> Brendan O'Brien, who was in a chase plane.
>>
>>
>
>

[John[_8_]]

Would whomever posted these pictures please re-post them? My
newsreader (Agent) just changed something in how it handled messages
and I was not able to pick up anything from the past two weeks or so
(last time I downloaded anyway).

Appreciate it.

As Randy just pointed out - 1958 was 50 years ago. The T2J-1
(redesignated T-2A in 1962) first flew in January 31, 1958. Steve
Ginter has an excellent book (as always) on the development and
operational history of the "Buckeye".

>>> Over the Gulf of Mexico aircraft from VT-86 practice for a
>>> commemorative flyover of the Naval Air Station Pensacola Sherman
>>> Field in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first flight on the T-2
>>> Buckeye series aircraft on January 31, 1951.

John Alger USN(ret)
1972-1997 // 1310,1320
TA-4J, A-7E, EC-130Q, P-3B