First Stop for "Second Seaters"

For many military 'Second Seaters,' (Naval Flight Officers, Air Force navigators, and foreign military students) NAS Pensacola is the first stop, a posting where they become familiar with the operational characteristics and procedures they will need to develop their skills, and that training takes place aboard a fleet of 17 T-39N aircraft, together with ground-based trainers and associated training materials, all provided by Sabreliner.

Sabreliner won a contract in 1990 to obtain, prepare and operate the aircraft and ground-based trainers, including all airframe and engine maintenance and support. Sabre Model 40 aircraft were purchased by Sabreliner, and extensively modified at its Perryville, Mo. facility, which reached a peak employment level of 575 during this period.

Modifications included:

• Structural airframe Service Life Extension
• Integration of the APG-66NT (F-16 type) multi-mode radar system
• Installation of instructor and student training console stations
• Installation of a second escape hatch on the right side of the fuselage
• Major cockpit changes

The extensive design engineering, analysis, and ground and flight testing performed by Sabre-liner allowed it to obtain an FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the T-39N as a unique configuration; at the time, this fleet comprised the only strictly military-use Sabreliner aircraft for which full FAA registration and Airworthiness Certificates were maintained.

Following delivery, the 17 Sabreliner-owned aircraft were operated full-time at NAS Pensacola by Sabreliner-provided pilots. The aircraft, and their JT12 engines, were also completely maintained and logistically supported by Sabreliner, both on-site and at the depot level in Perryville.

The resulting exemplary performance by Sabreliner was recognized with several prestigious Navy awards including the VADM Goldwaithe Award. The training Mission Completion Rate was consistently in the 98% - 99% range, surpassing the contract standard of 95%. The program had an outstanding safety record and was accident-free over its entire term from 1990 through 1998, encompassing about 75,000 flying hours.

Major subcontractors included Westinghouse (now part of Northrop Grumman), Beech Aerospace Services (now part of Raytheon Aerospace), AAI, Tracor, and Southwest Research Institute.

Near the conclusion of the eight year T-39N/UNFO contract, Sabreliner agreed to sell the training assets, including the 17 aircraft and six ground-based trainers, to the Navy. Training continues at Pensacola under an expanded and improved Navy program, now called UMFOTS. Additional aircraft have been added to the program including Navy-owned CT-39G's (military variants of the Sabreliner Model 60), which have been modified for non-radar portions of the training.

Sabreliner continues to provide depot-level maintenance for the airframes and engines under a first-tier subcontract that includes engineering, Aircraft Condition Inspections, modifications, major repairs, painting, and engine Hot Section Inspections and overhauls.