COBI Beechcraft T-6 Texan II RAF Set 26626

COBI's Beechcraft T-6C Texan II in Royal Air Force markings is a 1:48 model built from 197 blocks, 17.5 cm long with a 23 cm wingspan, with an opening cockpit, a turning propeller and rotating wheels. All markings are printed; the set contains no stickers.

Britain's pilot training is run by a contractor

The aircraft in these markings belongs to the UK Military Flying Training System, and the arrangement behind it is unusual enough to be worth explaining.

Since 2016 the RAF, Royal Navy and Army have not owned or maintained most of their training aircraft. A private consortium does: it supplies the aeroplanes, the simulators, the engineering and a share of the instructors, and the services pay for flying hours delivered. The Texan T1 replaced the Shorts Tucano in 2018 under this contract, and students move on from it to fast jets or to multi-engine and rotary training.

The T-6C differs from the American versions in having hardpoints under the wings and a glass cockpit closer to what an export customer would want — it is the version Beechcraft sells abroad rather than the one the USAF flies.

In the COBI range

COBI makes this aircraft in three liveries at 1:48: this British version and the two American ones, sets 26624 and 26625.

Specifications

Pieces: 197 · Scale: 1:48 · No stickers
Model dimensions: 17.5 × 23 × 5.5 cm (6.9 × 9.1 × 2.2 in)