T-43

From USAFA Folklore

The McDonnell Douglas T-43 was used for Navigation Training for cadets that did not meet physical pilot qualifications.

The T-43A is a modified Boeing 737-200 used by the U.S. Air Force. Delivered during 1973 and 1974, the primary mission of the T-43 is as a flying classroom for USAF Undergraduate Navigator/Combat Systems Officer training (with the exception of those USAF Navs/CSOs slated for the F-15E and B-1B) and advanced interservice NAV pipeline training for Student Naval Flight Officers slated for eventual assignment to land-based naval aircraft. The T-43A has stations onboard for twelve navigator students, six navigator instructors, as well as a pilot and co-pilot.

Externally the T-43 differs from the civilian aircraft by having more antennas and fewer windows. The student training compartment is equipped with advanced avionics gear identical to that of Air Force operational aircraft. This includes mapping radar; VOR (VHF omnirange) and TACAN (tactical air navigation) radio systems; inertial navigation system; radar altimeter; and all required communications equipment. Five periscopic sextant stations spaced along the length of the training compartment are used for celestial navigation training. However, with the advent of GPS, student navigators are no longer taught celestial navigation.