Random question - trainers that have also been frontline aircraft.

[Joe Copalman]

As many of you know, I'm a total A-4 fanatic.  It's just hands-down one of the greatest combat aircraft ever designed (as are most Heinemann-designed aircraft, but I digress).  I was thinking about the TA-4F/J this evening and how convenient/practical/awesome it was to have later-model A-4 fleet pilots (A-4F and onward) that did their jet training in TA-4s.  This got me thinking about other airframes that have been used as both trainers and frontline combat aircraft.  The ones that come to mind immediately are the T-37/A-37, the T-38/F-5 (not so much the US as other air forces that are equipped with both), the T-6A/AT-6B (if that moves forward), the MiG-15UTI and its fighter variants, and the OH-58/TH-57. 

Anyone know of any other combat airframes that served as trainers or vice versa?  I'm looking mainly for types in which universal training was done on the trainer type while the combat type was still actively flown by active-duty units. 

[Jay Beckman]

Given the mission at both TIA and Luke, is it fair to call the F-16D a "trainer" while it's also doing Wild Weasel tasks in combat?

[Joe Copalman]

I'm thinking more along the lines of UPT types, not type conversion. 

And I just thought of another - TF-9Js were still being used to train Navy pilots while they were also used by the Marines as fast-FACs in Vietnam.  It was replaced in both roles by the TA-4F. 

[cpasley]

If your not just talking about U.S. aircraft I guess a mention would have to be given to the Bae Hawk ,or the BAC Strikemaster/Jet Provost

[bilwor]

what about P-80/T-33.
bill word

[cpasley]

Good one Bill that makes me think of the T-28/T-28D also

[Joe Copalman]

All solid entries. 

The L-39/139/159 series comes to mind as well.

[Chris Kennedy]

TF-102 & TF-104

[Chris Kennedy]

Also, the F-106B was a two seater. From wikipedia:

F-106B : Two-seat, combat-capable training version. Pilot and instructor are seated in tandem. Due to the extra seat, the fuselage is actually better area ruled; combined with a likely reduction in weight.

[Joe Copalman]

The two-seat Century-series birds were not basic jet trainers, but rather type-conversion variants for pilots that already completed UPT in T-33s or T-38s.     

[cpasley]

I have also noticed that more planes recently designed as trainers are being given secondary roles as combat aircraft

-Hongdu L-15
-Aermacchi M-346 Master/Yak-130
-MiG-AT
-KAI T-50 Golden Eagle

[Joe Copalman]

True, but are they being used by air forces in both roles, or are they just being marketed as such?

[cpasley]

From what I understand they are being marketed as trainers but with frontline combat capabilities