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The AT-6 Texan successfully trained thousands pilots in WWII and was subsequently used by many of the World's Air Forces. Later, the Chinese CJ-6A Trainer becomes a favorite of Communist Bloc Air Forces.
The story of the North American Aviation's T-6 Texan.
(Navy - SNJ, Internationally - the Harvard)
The North American Aviation "T-6 Texan" was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s. Designed by North American Aviation, the T-6 is known by a variety of designations depending on the model and operating air force. The USAAC and USAAF designated it as the AT-6, the United States Navy the SNJ, and British Commonwealth air forces, the "Harvard", the name it is best known by outside of the US. After 1962, US forces designated it the T-6. It remains a popular warbird aircraft used for airshow demonstrations and static displays.
Great 5 minute video of Centex's own AT-6s in flight.
View Loop and Roll - AT-6 / Texan, SNJ-4. - 1 minute.
Short clip of a loop and 2 barrel rolls in an AT-6 Texan / SNJ4.
Vintage WWII AT-6 training film - The Slow Roll. 10 minutes.
United States Navy training film covering instruction in the slow roll using the North American SNJ trainer.
A simple design was the AT-6's success.
One of Centex's AT-6 painted as a Japanese Zero.
A simple design was the AT-6's success.
A-T Texan's simple and reliable mechanics.
Several of Centex's AT-6 Texans were modified to look like Japanese planes for the film "Tora, Tora Tora."
Centex's AT-6 Texan elongated to look like a Japanese "Kate" bomber.
AT-6 Technical Data.
AT-6 Texan General characteristics.
- Crew: two (student and instructor)
- Length: 29 ft (8.84 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft (12.81 m)
- Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.57 m)
- Wing area: 253.7 ft² (23.6 m²)
- Empty weight: 4,158 lb (1,886 kg)
- Loaded weight: 5,617 lb (2,548 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 208 mph at 5,000 ft (335 km/h at 1,500 m)
- Cruise speed: 145 mph (233 km/h)
- Range: 730 miles (1,175 km)
- Service ceiling: 24,200 ft (7,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 1200ft/min (6.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 22.2 lb/ft² (108 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.11 hp/lb (kW/kg)
Armament
- Provision for up to 3× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
Many AT-6s became armed & used in conflicts by other nations' Air Forces.
AT-6s were armed and used by many Air Forces around the globe.
Armed AT-6's deployed by Syria against Israel in1948.
A Syrian Harvard
The Syrian Air Force T-6 Texan of the 1st Fighter Squadron, which shot down an Israeli Avia S.199 flown by a South African pilot, Lionel Bloch, over Qunaytra. Syria on July 10, 1948. This was the first time that a Syrian aircraft had shot down an enemy plane in combat. Six days later this same T-6 was brought down by Israeli ground-fire.
Links to National Air Forces that deployed the AT-6.
- Argentine Army Aviation (SNJ-4)
- Argentine Naval Aviation (SNJ-4 and 30 SNJ-5Cs for carrier operations)
Belgium
Biafra
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
- National Research Council (still in use)
Chile
Colombia
Republic of the Congo
Cuba
Denmark
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
France
Gabon
Germany
- Luftwaffe (post war)
Haiti
Hong Kong
Honduras
India
Indonesia
- Indonesian Air Force- ex-Dutch aircraft.
Israel
Italy
Japan
KatangaLebanon
Republic of Korea
Mexico
- Mexican Air Force Total of 120 delivered, 47 AT-6 and 73 T-6C
Netherlands
Mozambique
New Zealand
Norway - 1 maintained for historic flight
Nicaragua
Pakistan
Paraguay
Philippines
Portugal
South Africa
Southern Rhodesia
South Vietnam
Saudi Arabia
Spain
Soviet Union
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
- Turkish Air Force 196 planes of various types
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
Yugoslavia
Centex's own L-5 actually served in several wars as a trainer, spotter and in battlefield evacuations.
The Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of World War II that was purpose-built for military use and had no civilian counterpart. All other military liaison airplanes adopted during World War II were lightly modified "off-the-shelf" civilian models.
Capable of operating from short unimproved airstrips, the L-5 "Sentinel" delivered personnel, critical intelligence and needed supplies to the front line troops. On return flights, wounded soldiers were often evacuated to rear area field hospitals for medical treatment, providing a huge boost to the morale of combat troops fighting in remote areas. L-5's were used for many other important activities, such as aerial photography, controlling vehicle convoys, para-dropping food, medical supplies and ammunition, laying communication wire, distributing propaganda leaflets, spraying pesticide, transporting prisoners, and directing fighter-bombers to ground targets. The L-5 was also popular with Generals and other high-ranking officers for fast, efficient short-range transportation.
L-5 used for Medical Evacuation.
During the Battle of Okinawa, L-5 operated from an LST using the Brodie landing system which allowed a light aircraft to take off and land without a flat surface by snagging a wired hung between two booms. One of the L-5 that used the Brodie system off Okinawa is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution Aerospace Museum in Washington, DC.
Our CJ-6, a Chinese trainer is now a favorite in many Air Forces.
Nanchang CJ-6
The Nanchang CJ-6 is an aircraft designed and built in China for use by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as a basic trainer.
The Chinese engine certainly has its idiosyncrasies.
The CJ-6 (translation 初教 or CJ = 初级教练机 or Chuji Jiaolianji = Primary Trainer in English) is an all-original Chinese design that is commonly mistaken for a Yak 18A. Its predecessor, the Nanchang CJ-5, was a licence-built version of the Yak-18. However, advancements in pilot training brought a need for a new aircraft with improved performance and a tricycle landing gear. When the Soviet Union developed the Yak-18A, PLAAF engineers decided that its performance and design would not suit China's needs. A few important Chinese aircraft designers were involved in design task of CJ-6, Lin Jiahua (Nanchang 320 Aircraft Factory designer, previously involved in CJ5's design project), Xu Xunshou (key member of J-7/J-8 fighter jet design team in 1970s) and Zhiqian Huang (Chief designer of J-8 fighter jet).
One thing to note is that the Nanchang CJ-6 makes extensive use of pneumatics to control the gear and flap extension/retraction, operate the brakes and start the engine. An engine-driven air pump recharges the system, however if air pressure is too low to start the engine then the onboard air tank can be recharged by an external source. If an external source is not available then the engine can be started by hand swinging the propeller.
Civilian Use
Due to its inexpensive price and sturdy construction, the CJ-6A is a popular hobby plane. A used CJ-6 in the United States can cost as little as $75,000. The aircraft appears on the civil register of the USA, Australia, UK, South Africa and other countries.
For More in formation on The Central Texas Wing of The Commemorative Air Force
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