THE TEXAN


Our AT-6D over the St. Augustine Inlet

From 1940 to 1945 North American Aviation built the Texan advanced fighter trainer for the U.S. Army Air Force, the U.S. Navy and many Allied Nations. In the final phase of training advanced techniques and tactics were taught in the Texan. This was the last airplane that the fighter pilot trainees flew that had a second seat for an instructor. NAA<BR> Logo

SNJ at 10,500 feet
The Texan is a powered by a 600 horsepower Pratt & Whitney Wasp, a supercharged nine cylinder radial engine of 1340 cu. in. that swings a nine foot Hamilton Standard propeller. The tandem cockpits have sliding canopies that can be opened in flight.
Pratt & Whitney Medalion
The Texan mounted two M-2 .30-caliber machine guns and some were fitted with a flexible mount M-2 machine gun that fired rearward from the aft cockpit.
AT-6 with rear gunner
Browning M-2 Machine Gun Cal. .30
 Its underwing racks could carry ten M-5 fragmentation bombs or four 250 pound Mark I bombs. Squeezing the trigger on the joystick fired the two fixed guns as well as activating the W-7B gun camera in the left wing. Bombs were released with a thumb button on the stickgrip. Targeting was through the N-3B optical gunsight.

SNJ aboard a carrier
Navy models could be fitted with
arresting gear hooks for carrier use.
Hook down, in the groove

Mosquito Squadrons
Flying in combat during the Korean War, Air Force Texans were outfitted
with twelve 2.25 inch rockets and underwing machine gun pods.
These planes were designated as LT-6's, and served as Forward Air Controllers.
(Known as the Mosquito Squadrons).
They flew over forty thousand combat missions.
LT-6 Mosquito in Korea

As famous aviation author Len Morgan (who trained in the RCAF model of the Texan, the "Harvard") has written,
the Texan "was the perfect advanced trainer for fighter pilots. It was constructed, and it handled, like the top fighters
of the day. Fly the ship properly, they'd tell us, and you can fly any single-engine type we've got".

NATG's aircraft were all built between 1943 and 1945.
The paint schemes and markings are authentic to the years in which these aircraft served with the US Army Air Force, US Navy and US Air Force. Our aircraft have been restored to military condition inside the cockpits as well, including machine gun triggers on the control sticks and gunsight reflectors. Modern avionics have been added for reliable intercom and radio communications. A video system with three color cameras and two soundtracks can tape your flight.
T-6G under restoration

SNJ Cockpit
 Our aircraft receive daily maintenance.
Every 100 hours of flight time they undergo a complete inspection (which takes two mechanics four to five days).
Engines, propellers and accessories are overhauled every 1400 to 1600 hours.
SNJ getting new engine

To keep our aircraft flying in all their historic splendor requires the dedication of many highly skilled NATG mechanics.
To maintain our Warbirds our maintenance staff daily exercises talents not commonly found in the jet age.
DIMENSIONS

Wingspan......42 ft.
Length...........29 ft
Height...........12 ft
AIRSPEEDS

Vs1.................72 Mph IAS
Vso.................64 Mph IAS
Vne...............240 Mph IAS
Cruise....140-175 Mph IAS
LIMITATIONS

Weight (Military Gross).........5630 lbs.
G Limits......................... +5.67 -2.33
Take-Off Power...36" MP 2250 RPM
(72 gal. per hour)



T-6 Take-off! (1130 KB)
-clip (1130 KB)
Click on the photo to view a T-6 Take-off!      
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e-mail: rep@natg.com

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