T-47A Citation II Cessna 552

The T-47A Citation II (Cessna 552) is the trainer variant for US Navy, used to train naval flight officers in radar navigation and airborne radar-intercept procedures. The Navy procured 15 modified versions of the commercial Cessna Citation II to replace earlier T-39Ds in the training role. Intended as a trainer for F-14 Naval Flight Officers, the T-47A was part of a multi-million dollar program awarded to Cessna Aircraft in 1983 for flight training. Changes from the civilian Model 550 included the APQ-159 radar from the F-14 Tomcat and shorter wings. The engines were the Pratt and Whitney of Canada JT15D-5 with 2500 lb. thrust. The modified aircraft were first flown on 15 February 1984, and the T-47A entered service later that year at Pensacola Naval Air Station. According to some accounts, the T-47A aircraft began to show signs of structural stress, and did not perform well at high altitude. All but one of the aircraft were destroyed in a hangar fire. The seven T-39N Sabreliners in current service, refurbished from old versions of the T-39, replaced the Cessna T-47A during the early 1990s.