North American T-6 Texan
1935 - 1995
Vehicle overview
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1970’s. Designed by North American Aviation, the T-6 is known by a variety of designations depending on the model and operating air force.
About the vehicle
The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and USAAF designated it as the AT-6, the United States Navy the SNJ, and British Commonwealth air forces the Harvard, the name by which it is best known outside the US. Starting in 1948, the new United States Air Force (USAF) designated it the T-6, with the USN following in 1962.
It remains a popular warbird used for airshow demonstrations and static displays. It has also been used many times to simulate various historical aircraft, including the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero. A total of 15,495 T-6s of all variants were built.
Interesting facts
The aircraft is fully aerobatic and features a pressurized cockpit with an anti-G system, ejection seat and an advanced avionics package with sunlight-readable liquid crystal displays.
Technical specifications
| First flight | 28 September 1938 |
| Span | 42 feet ¼" |
| Length | 28 feet 11 ⅞" |
| Seating | Tandem |
| Speed | 205 mph at 5,000 feet |
| Crew | Pilot, co-pilot |
| Landing gear | Retractable |
| Propeller | Controllable pitch |
