In 1937 North American won the Air Corp design competition to produce the new combat trainer that developed into the AT-6. The most universally used trainer in the allied air forces. Known as the AT-6 by the USAAF, the T-6 after 1948, was produced well into the 1950’s. Cadet training consisted of 26 weeks of pre-flight, 11 weeks primary training in the N3N and 22 weeks advanced training in the SNJ. Carrier landings, gunnery, bombing and rocket attack were completed and finally the reserve officer was moved to a combat training team.
The attack on Pearl Harbor found the Navy with only 4,000 combat pilots. By the end of the war there were 60,747 Navy aviators. Over 2,000 AT-6’s remained in service after WWII also serving abroad as the famous T-6F Harvard.This powerful trainer was very successful in preparing the pilots for fighter aircraft.
Purchased and restored in 1976 by Stan Hoefler, Yanks’ former curator.
| DISPLAY STATUS | COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | CURRENT LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| Own | United States | Legends Hangar |
| PURPOSE & TYPE | MATERIALS | ERA & DATE RANGE |
| Trainer | Steel | World War II 1939 – 1945 |
| PRODUCTION & ACQUISITION |
SPECIFICATIONS | SERVICE HISTORY |
| MFG: North American Aviation First Produced: 1938 Number Built: 15,000 total; 1.357 SNG-5 Models Armament: (1). 40 caliber forward firing machine gun, (1) .30 caliber machine gun in rear cockpit Acquired by Yanks in 1976. |
Wingspan: 42’ Wing Area: 253.7 sq ft Length: 29’6” Height: 11’9” Empty Weight: 4,158 lbs Gross Weight: 5,250 lbs Powerplant: P/W R-1340 AN-1 Thrust: Cruise Speed: 170 mph Maximum Speed: 205 mph Range: 750 miles |
Delivered: Jan 29, 1944
1944 – VN 4D8 |