Originally Posted by
USMCFLYR
I've never known of a T-34 Reserve outfit anywhere in the Navy and certainly not the USMC. Now there will have been some reserve guys flying the T-34s in the VTs (SAU = Selective Augmentation Unit)
Someone like Bunk will be able to answer better - but I wasn't sure if Whiting itself was too short for the T-6; but I do know that they will not be able to run split runways ops like they do with the T-34s. I'm not that familiar with Whiting north or south ops since I'm a Corpus product myself.
USMCFLYR
There are Navy SELRES types down there with a Navy O-6 leading the way when he's not flying around with AA. Not sure if it's an SAU unit though.
Whiting isn't too short for the T-6 but many of the OLF's are. There were a few issues as to why it took so long to get T-6's out at Whiting. It was my understanding that the T-6A's at NASP were meant for Whiting but due to not being ready, they went to VT-4/10. Don't quote me on that one. A good friend is in charge of the T-6 transition and we would talk about the issues to get it there. Then there's the small contingent of IP's who think the T-34 is the best and greatest, to fly it forever I guess. Sometimes you have to move on. Not like the T-6 is a totally out of this world design, it's just the next step in the evolution of the turboprop trainer.
I've driven past an airbase in Korea here where I see small, PC-9 like, turboprops flying around. Actually, hauling ass for a prop into the break. I looked it up and they are home grown aircraft called KT-1's. Said they go 350knots, fast for a turboprop, like the PC-21. Again, just another evolution of the turboprop.
