North American DT-2B Buckeye

The North American DT‑2B Buckeye was a naval jet trainer developed by North American Aviation in the early 1950s to replace the piston‑engine T‑28 for carrier‑based pilot instruction. First flown on 14 June 1954, the DT‑2B entered service with the United States Navy in 1955 and was later adopted by several allied air forces. Its airframe derived from the successful T‑2A, but the DT‑2B incorporated a more powerful General Electric J65‑19 turbo‑jet, a strengthened fuselage, and enhanced control‑surface hydraulics to simulate carrier‑landing characteristics. The cockpit featured dual, fully redundant ejection seats, a basic heads‑up display, and instrumentation that could be re‑configured to represent both fighter and attack aircraft, allowing trainees to transition smoothly to frontline platforms such as the F‑4 Phantom and A‑4 Skyhawk. With a maximum speed of 625 km/h, a service ceiling of 13 000 m, and a simple, low‑maintenance design, the Buckeye proved economical for high‑tempo training squadrons. Over 2,000 units were built, and the type remained in active service until the mid‑1990s, shaping generations of naval aviators and establishing a benchmark for jet trainer versatility and reliability. Its legacy continues in modern training doctrines, and many preserved examples are displayed in museums worldwide.