Curtiss-Wright Selected by Scientific Research Corporation for Production Phase of DoD’s Modernization of T-6A/B/D Trainer Aircraft Flight Recorder

• Fortress® crash survivable recorder supports safety and training programs on T-6A/B/D Texan II aircraft used by U.S. Military

ASHBURN, Va. – October 30, 2024 – Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division has been selected by Scientific Research Corporation (SRC) to support the production and modernization of the flight recorder for the T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft fleet operated by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army. This new production contract follows the successful completion of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the FAA for use of Curtiss-Wright’s Fortress flight recorder on T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft, announced in June, 2023. Under the production contract, Curtiss-Wright is providing SRC with a variant of its Fortress CSR flight recorder, that combines a cockpit voice recorder (CVR), flight data recorder (FDR), integrated data acquisition, independent power supply, and Secure Digital (SD) card based quick access recorder in a single lightweight and compact unit.

The agreement covers the delivery and installation of Fortress recorders to all USAF, USN, and US Army T6 A.B.D Models, including spares. The contract also includes the supply of replay and analysis software to support flight accident and accident investigation as well as supporting Military Flight Operations Quality Assurance (MFOQA), maintenance support, and aircraft structural loads monitoring.

“Curtiss-Wright is proud to have been selected by Scientific Research Corporation to support the important crash survivable recorder upgrade program for the T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft fleet, which significantly expands Curtiss Wright flight recorder footprint with the US DoD,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “This production contract follows our earlier development contract received in 2020 as well as SRC’s successful completion of a Supplemental Type Certificate from the FAA for Curtiss-Wright’s Fortress flight recorder, which was announced at the Paris Air Show earlier in 2023. This contract will help speed the deployment of modern flight recorder technology to DoD Training Commands.”

Developed for use on military fixed wing and rotorcraft platforms, the Fortress recorder’s ability to acquire additional data as customer needs evolve has helped further establish Curtiss-Wright as one of the leading suppliers of modern flight data recorders. Further, it provides T-6 Texan II aircraft operators with the ability to perform sophisticated flight data monitoring applications.

Curtiss-Wright designs and manufactures the flight recorder products covered by this agreement at its Bournemouth, UK facility. The products are being shipped to the SRC facility in Warner Robins, Georgia for kitting before being sent to T-6 operational bases for kit installation per STC SA00219MC.