RTAF Completes In-Country Training of Solo Pilots for the First Group of 7 AT-6TH Attack Aircraft

14 Januari 2025

Wing 41 Chiang Mai Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base held a congratulation ceremony for  new 7 RTAF pilot Class I of transition and last solo flight for Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine light attack aircraft of 411th Squadron (photos: RTAF)

The congratulatory ceremony for the pilots of the 8th Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine attack aircraft, Squadron 411, Wing 41, Chiang Mai, Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Class 1 (Class I), 7 people who have completed the transition flight training and performed the first Solo fight flight at the aircraft hangar, Squadron 411, Wing 41 on January 8, 2025.

It is an important progress of the project to procure the first two AT-6TH Wolverine attack aircraft, number "41101" and "41102", entered service at Squadron 411, Wing 41 on July 16, 2024, and began the first flight training in its area on October 1, 2024.

The Royal Thai Air Force sent 8 pilots to receive training in Flight Instructor and Test Pilot courses at Textron Aviation Defense in Wichita, Kansas, from February 12 to May 15, 2024. They have completed their studies and returned to Thailand and have established the first pilot training program in the country. 

The first two AT-6TH attack aircraft have been delivered by sea to Thailand and have entered the Final Reassembly Program at the aircraft factory of Thai Aviation Industries Co., Ltd. (TAI) in Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province, near Wing 4 Takhli. Squadron 411 is scheduled to receive the full eight AT-6THs by February 2025.

The Royal Thai Air Force signed a contract to procure 8 AT-6TH attack aircraft worth 4,314,039,980.80 baht ($143 million) on November 14, 2021. The procurement of AT-6TH attack aircraft also includes the transfer of technology to Thailand.

Similar to the 22nd Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II (T-6C) training aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force Kamphaeng Saen Flying School, which has received a total of 12 aircraft in 2023 which has the same basic structure as the AT-6TH. However, from the designation of the Royal Thai Air Force, it has been shown that the missions of the two aircraft are completely different.

From the picture, AT-6TH No. "41105" in November 2024 indicates that the Thai TAI aircraft factory has delivered at least 5 completed aircraft to Squadron 411, Wing 41. Later, in the opening ceremony of the Air Tactical Operations Evaluation 2025 at the Chai Badan Air Weapons Training Range, Lopburi Province on December 12, 2024.

Two AT-6TH aircraft, numbered "41102" and "41104", armed with HMP-400 air gun pods and 7-round LAU-131/A rocket pods, have made their first combat air patrol flight, indicating that the aircraft is getting closer to the declaration of Initial Operating Capability (IOC).

(AAG)