Three more Japanese-donated Beechcraft King Air TC-90 patrol aircraft will be transferred to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by the third week of March.
This was announced by Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong Monday.
The planes will be tentatively delivered to the Naval Air Group headquarters in Sangley Point, Cavite City, he added.
The first two TC-90s were delivered to the Philippines last March 27. With the pending arrival of the three planes, the number of Philippine-operated Beechcraft King Air TC-90s will climb to five.
Last January 31, one of the first two delivered planes, with tail number 390, conducted its first maritime air patrol mission off Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Zambales.
The Beechcraft King Air TC-90s have a range of over 1,000 nautical miles, and a cruising speed of 260 knots and capable of carrying eight passengers along with the pilots.
As of this time, the Navy is operating around six Norman Britten “Islander” patrol aircraft, four GAF “Nomad” planes, five AgustaWestland combat utility helicopters and one Robinson R-22 training helicopter.
The TC-90, which is part of the Beechcraft King Air aircraft family, was offered by Japan shortly after the Agreement Concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology was finalized last Feb. 29, 2016.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has operated a total of 40 C90 and C90A King Airs, with deliveries beginning in 1973. These have been given various designations by the JMSDF and consist of 34 TC-90 trainers, five LC-90 transports and a single UC-90 which is configured for a photographic aerial survey.
The TC-90s and the UC-90 comprise the 202nd Naval Air Training Squadron (JMSDF) based at Tokushima Air Base, while the LC-90s are attached to various Lockheed P-3 Kokutai (Squadrons) and an Air Transport Squadron 61 as liaison aircraft.
In late 2005 the JMSDF marked 500,000 accident-free flying hours of the TC-90 trainer fleet. Philippine maintenance staff will also be trained.
The JMSDF made plans to lease at least five Beechcraft King Air TC-90 aircraft to the Philippines to conduct maritime patrols.Two aircraft were transferred free of charge in March 2017.
From November 2016 to November 2017 six Philippine Navy pilots were be trained to fly the aircraft at Tokushima Airport. Maintenance staff is also being trained. There are plans to transfer three more aircraft.
The Beech King Air is the world’s most popular turboprop aircraft. The Beechcraft King Air TC-90 is based on the commercial, twin-turboprop engine, straight wing C90 utility aircraft made by the American company Beechcraft.
The C90 belongs to the Model 90 Series of aircraft with an official name of King Air. It first flew in 1963, and since then over 3,000 of it and its derivatives have been produced and served with various Air Forces and Airlines all over the world.
The TC-90 is the designation given to the Training Aircraft used by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSF) with unique locally made avionics.
https://www.update.ph/2018/02/3-patrol-planes-japan-arriving-next-month-dnd/24266
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