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New Zealand Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that the RNZAF will acquire 11 Beechcraft T-6C turboprop trainers as part of a NZ$154 million training package.
Dr Coleman said in a January 27 statement. “The (NZ)$154 million package includes ground simulators, classroom and computer based training packages to complement practical flying experience in turbo-prop T-6C aircraft."
The simulators will be acquired from CAE Simulation to subcontract to Beechcraft. CAE Australia will support the simulators and Safe Air will provide maintenance support to the aircraft at Ohakea.
Aircrew training for the RNZAF is currently conducted on CT-4E piston trainers and Beechcraft B200 King Airs, and both of these types are due to be withdrawn by 2018. “The new system is expected to be operational for the first trainee intake in early 2016,” Dr Coleman added. “It is estimated it will produce up to 15 graduate pilots and 12 Qualifying Flying Instructors per year over the next 30 years"
The aircraft will be assembled in Wichita, Kansas, and are expected to enter service with the Pilot Training School and the Central Flying School at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) Ohakea base in early 2016.
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| Serial |
c/n |
US Registration |
Delivered |
Aircraft History |
| NZ1401 |
PM-37 (?) |
N2824B |
22/08/2014 |
10/06/2014 First Flight at Beechcraft Wichita, Kansas, USA,
02/08/2014 arrived Stansted, London
19/08/2014 Arrived Cairns
20/08/2014 Arrived Brisbane
21/08/2014 Arrived Whenuapai via Norfolk Is
22/08/2014 Local flight from/to Whenuapai, then to RNZAF Ohakea.
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea.
|
| NZ1402 |
PM-38 (?) |
N2826B |
22/08/2014 |
02/08/2014 arrived Stansted, London
19/08/2014 Arrived Cairns
20/08/2014 Arrived Brisbane
21/08/2014 Arrived Whenuapai
22/08/2014 Local flight from/to Whenuapai, then to RNZAF Ohakea.
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea.
9/10/2018 Belly landing at Ohakea during night flying after one main undercarriage leg failed to extend.
Nov 2021 Aircraft returned to service
|
| NZ1403 |
PM-41 |
N2841B |
28/11/2014 |
??/09/2014 Retained at Wichita for trials.
Due for delivery to New Zealand with NZ1406 & 1407 in November 2014.
12/11/2014 Departed Wichita on delivery flight to Des Moines, Iowa, then to Ottawa.
13/11/2014 arrived Keflavik via Goose Bay
14/11/2014 arrived London/Stansted
25/11/2014 arrived Darwin from Bali
26/11/2014 arrived Cairns
27/11/2014 arrived Gold Coast
28/11/2014 arrived Ohakea via Norfolk Is
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea.
|
| NZ1404 |
PM-42 |
N2842B |
08/10/2014 |
19/09/2014 Departed Wichita of ferry flight to New Zealand,
22/09/2014 to Keflavik
23/09/2014 To Stanstead, via Glasgow
24/09/2014 Spotted Departing Stansted, UK,
25/09/2014 Arrived Rome,
28/09/2014 Arrived Dubai,
01/10/2014 Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, India
??/10/2014 Bangkok, Thailand,
02/10/2014 Singapore,
03/10/2014 Bali, Indonesia,
07/10/2014 Darwin,
08/10/2014 Brisbane, Norfolk Island, Ohakea.
To be handed over to RNZAF on 31/10/2014.
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea
|
| NZ1405 |
PM-43 |
N2845B |
08/10/2014 |
19/09/2014 Departed Wichita of ferry flight to New Zealand,
22/09/2014 to Keflavik
23/09/2014 to Stansted via Glasgow
24/09/2014 Spotted Departing Stansted, UK,
25/09/2014 Arrived Rome,
28/09/2014 Arrived Dubai,
01/10/2014 Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, India
??/10/2014 Bangkok, Thailand,
02/10/2014 Singapore,
03/10/2014 Bali, Indonesia,
05/10/2014 Darwin,
06/10/2014 arrived Brisbane via Cairns.
07/10/2014 Flew Brisbane -Tamworth-Brisbane
08/10/2014 Brisbane, Norfolk Island, Ohakea.
To be handed over to RNZAF on 31/10/2014.
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea
|
| NZ1406 |
PM-44 |
N2846B |
28/11/2014 |
12/11/2014 Departed Wichita on delivery flight to Des Moines, Iowa, then to Ottawa.
13/11/2014 arrived Keflavik via Goose Bay
25/11/2014 arrived Darwin from Bali
26/11/2014 arrived Cairns
27/11/2014 arrived Gold Coast
28/11/2014 arrived Ohakea via Norfolk Is
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea.
|
| NZ1407 |
PM-45 |
N2847B |
28/11/2014 |
12/11/2014 Departed Wichita on delivery flight to Des Moines, Iowa, then to Ottawa.
13/11/2014 arrived Keflavik via Goose Bay
25/11/2014 arrived Darwin from Bali
26/11/2014 arrived Cairns
27/11/2014 arrived Gold Coast
28/11/2014 arrived Ohakea via Norfolk Is
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea.
|
| NZ1408 |
PM-50 |
N2763B |
05/03/2015 |
30/01/2015 departed on delivery flight to Des Moines, Iowa, then to Ottawa
31/02/2015 arrived Stromfjord, Greenland, via Iqaluit, Canada.
01/02/2015 arrived Birmingham via Keflavik, Iceland
03/02/2015 arrived Bournemouth
04/02/2015 arrived Roma Ciampino
13 /02/2015 arrived Broome
14/02/2015 arrived Alice Springs
15/02/2015 arrived Melbourne/Essendon
22/02/2015 arrived Avalon
On static display Avalon Air Show 2015,
05/03/2015 arrived Ohakea via Norfolk Is
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea.
|
| NZ1409 |
PM-53 |
N2770B |
05/03/2015 |
30/01/2015 departed on delivery flight to Des Moines, Iowa, then to Ottawa.
31/02/2015 arrived Stromfjord, Greenland, via Iqaluit, Canada.
01/02/2015 arrived Birmingham via Keflavik, Iceland
03/02/2015 arrived Bournemouth
04/02/2015 arrived Roma Ciampino
13 /02/2015 arrived Broome
14/02/2015 arrived Alice Springs
15/02/2015 arrived Melbourne/Essendon
22/02/2015 arrived Avalon
On static display Avalon Air Show 2015,
05/03/2015 arrived Ohakea via Norfolk Is
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea.
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| NZ1410 |
PM-54 |
N2773B |
16/04/2015 |
28/03/2015 Departed on delivery flight
31/03/2015 Birmingham
16/04/2015 Delivered to New Zealand.
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea
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| NZ1411 |
PM-55 |
N2786B |
16/04/2015 |
28/03/2015 Departed on delivery flight
31/03/2015 Birmingham
16/04/2015 Delivered to New Zealand.
In service with 14 Squadron, Ohakea.
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Author: Brendan Cowan, Les Billcliff
Sources: http://nzdf.mil.nz/, http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/01/nz-orders-beech-t-6c-trainers-and-sims/ ; http://defensenews.com/article/20140127/DEFREG03/301270024/New-Zealand-Picks-T-6C-Pilot-Training ; http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/06/first-royal-new-zealand-air-force-beechcraft-t-6c-takes-flight/ ; fightercontrol.co.uk , rnzaf.proboards.com , http://t6tonz.wordpress.com/, MRC Aviation
Emails: Gordon Birkett, Martin Edwards, Brendan Cowan, Andy Marden
Converted to CMS 14th September 2025
Updated 6February 2026
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