Canada’s student pilots prove their mettle in the CT-156 Harvard II. This agile turboprop trainer is the aircraft of choice for the early stages of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program.
Boasting an impressive thrust-to-weight ratio, the CT-156 has an initial climb rate of about 1 km per minute. It can handle sustained 2G turns at an altitude of 7500 metres. The Harvard II’s fully pressurized cockpit features an Electronic Flight Instrumentation System (EFIS) and a Global Positioning System (GPS).
The aircraft is ideally suited to help new pilots move seamlessly from basic flight training to high-performance jet training. Its performance, cockpit layout and ejection protocols mimic those of the CT-155 Hawk jet trainer.
NFTC students log about 95 hours on the Harvard II. After successful basic training, the pilots are streamed into the fighter, multi-engine or helicopter programs.
