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- '' This article is about the aircraft. For the Soviet prototype tank, see T-43 tank.
| Boeing T-43A | ||
|---|---|---|
| Description | ||
| Role | Navigation trainer | |
| Crew | 2 crew, 7 instructors, 12 students | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 100 ft | 30.3 m |
| Wingspan | 93 ft | 28.2 m |
| Height | 37 ft | 11.2 m |
| Wing area | 980 ft² | 91.0 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 64,090 lb | 29,071 kg |
| Loaded | 115,000 lb | 67,500 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A turbofans | |
| Thrust | 14,500 lbf each | 64 kN |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 562 mph | 904 km/h |
| Range | 3,000 mi | 4,830 km |
| Service ceiling | 37,000 ft | 11,200 m |
| Rate of climb | ||
The Boeing T-43A is a modified Boeing 737-200 used by the US Air Force. Delivered during 1973 and 1974, the primary mission of the T-43 is as a flying classroom for Navigator training. It has stations onboard for twelve navigator students, six instructors, as well as pilot and co-pilot.
Externally the T-43 differs from the civilian aircraft by having more antennas and fewer windows. The student training compartment is equipped with advanced avionics gear identical to that of Air Force operational aircraft. This includes mapping radar; VOR (VHF omnirange) and TACAN (tactical air navigation) radio systems; inertial navigation system; radar altimeter; and all required communications equipment. Five periscopic sextants spaced along the length of the training compartment are used for celestial navigation training. However student navigators are no longer taught celestial navigation.
The aircraft has considerably more training capability than the plane it replaced, the T-29C. Inside each T-43A training compartment are two minimum proficiency, two maxiumum proficiency and 12 student stations. Two stations form a console, and instructors can move their seats to the consoles and sit beside students for individual instruction. The large cabin allows easy access to seating and storage, yet reduces the distance between student stations and instructor positions.
Twelve aircraft of the nineteen originally ordered are still in service for the Air Force in their original role, based at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas and operated originally by the 558th Flying Training Squadron and since 1996 by the 562nd Flying Training Squadron, while two are used for similar purposes by the Air National Guard at Buckley AFB, Colo.. In addition, one has been modified to a transport aircraft, classified CT-43, and used by US Southern Command for commander transport in South America.
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