North American T-2C Buckeye

The Buckeye was designed in 1956 in response to a Navy requirement for a multi-purpose jet trainer. The first version of the aircraft used a single J34 jet engine and in this configuration the first flight was made in January 1958. Deliveries to training squadrons began in 1960. At the same time a program to redesign the Buckeye with two more modern jets was underway. This resulted in the T-2B, which entered Navy service in 1965. In 1969, even more efficient engines were fitted to the Buckeye resulting in the T-2C. The new General Electric J85 engine produced the same performance for significantly lower costs. The vast majority of Buckeyes have been retired from Navy service, however a few remain in use as of 2005 particularly with the Naval Test Pilot School.