North American AT-6C Texan (NA-88)
Single-engine two-seat low-wing advanced trainer monoplane


Archive Photos


1942 North American AT-6C-15-NT Texan (NA-88, AF 42-48884, c/n 88-12794, N884TA) on display (6/25/2000) at the Aviation Expo 2000, Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

Overview


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.

Development


The Texan originated from the North American NA-16 prototype (first flown on April 1, 1935) which, modified as the NA-26, was submitted as an entry for a USAAC Basic Combat aircraft competition in March, 1937. The first model went in to production and 180 were supplied to the USAAC as the BC-1 and 400 to the RAF as the Harvard I. The US Navy received 16 modified aircraft, designated the SNJ-1, and a further 61 as the SNJ-2 with a different engine.

The BC-1 was the production version of the NA-26 prototype, with retractable tailwheel landing gear and the provision for armament, a two-way radio, and the 550 hp (410 kW) R-1340-47 engine as standard equipment. Production versions included the BC-1 (Model NA-36) with only minor modifications (177 built), of which 30 were modified as BC-1I instrument trainers; the BC-1A (NA-55) with airframe revisions (92 built); and a single BC-1B with a modified wing center-section.

Three BC-2 aircraft were built before the shift to the advanced trainer designation, AT-6, which was equivalent to the BC-1A. The differences between the AT-6 and the BC-1 were new outer wing panels with a swept forward trailing edge, squared-off wingtips and a triangular rudder, producing the definitive Texan appearance. After a change to the rear of the canopy, the AT-6 was designated the Harvard II for RAF/RCAF orders and 1,173 were supplied by purchase or Lend Lease, mostly operating in Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

Next came the AT-6A which was based on the NA-77 design and was powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-49 Wasp radial engine. The USAAF received 1,549 and the US Navy 270 (as the SNJ-3). The AT-6B was built for gunnery training and could mount a 30-cal machine gun on the forward fuselage. It used the R-1340-AN-1 engine, which was to become the standard for the remaining T-6 production. Canada’s Noorduyn Aviation built an R-1340-AN-1-powered version of the AT-6A, which was supplied to the USAAF as the AT-16 (1,500 aircraft) and the RAF/RCAF as the Harvard IIB (2,485 aircraft), some of which also served with the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Canadian Navy.

In late 1937 Mitsubushi purchased two NA-16’s as technology demonstrators and possibly a licence to build more. However, the aircraft developed by Watanabe/Kyushu as the K10W1 (Allied code name *ldquo;Oak) bore no more than a superficial resemblance to the North American design. It featured a full monocoque fuselage as opposed to the steel tube fuselage of the T-6 and NA-16 family of aircraft, as well as being of smaller dimensions overall and had no design details in common with the T-6. It was used in very small numbers by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1942 onwards. After the war the Japanese Air Self Defense Force operated Texans.

The NA-88 design resulted in 2,970 AT-6C Texans and 2,400 as the SNJ-4. The RAF received 726 of the AT-6C as the Harvard IIA. Modifications to the electrical system produced the AT-6D (3,713 produced) and SNJ-5 (1,357 produced). The AT-6D, redesignated the Harvard III, was supplied to the RAF (351 aircraft) and Fleet Air Arm (564 aircraft). The AT-6G (SNJ-5) involved major advancements including a full-time hydraulic system and a steerable tailwheel and persisted into the 1950s as the USAF advanced trainer.

Subsequently the NA-121 design with a completely clear rearmost section on the canopy, gave rise to 25 AT-6F Texans for the USAAF and 931 as the SNJ-6 for the US Navy. The ultimate version, the Harvard 4, was produced by Canada Car and Foundry during the 1950s, and supplied to the RCAF, USAF and Bundeswehr.

A total of 15,495 T-6s of all variants were built.

Combat Use


During the Korean War and, to a lesser extent, the Vietnam War, T-6s were pressed into service as forward air control aircraft. These aircraft were designated T-6 Mosquitos.

No. 1340 Flight RAF used the Harvard in Kenya against the Mau Mau in the 1950s, where they operated with 20-lb bombs and machine guns against the gangs. Some operations took place at altitudes around 20,000 ft above mean sea level. A Harvard was the longest-serving RAF aeroplane, with an example, taken on strength in 1945, still serving in the 1990s (as a chase plane for helicopter test flights, role for which the Shorts Tucano’s high stall speed was ill-suited).

The T-6G was also used in a light attack or counter insurgency role by France during the Algerian war in special Escadrilles d’Aviation Légère d’Appui (EALA), armed with machine guns, bombs and rockets. At its peak, there were 38 EALAs active. The largest unit was the Groupe d’Aviation Légère d’Appui 72, which consisted of up to 21 EALAs.

From 1961 to 1975, Portugal, also, used hundreds of T-6G in the counter insurgency role during the Portuguese Colonial War. During this war, almost all the Portuguese Air Force bases and air fields in Angola, Mozambique and Portuguese Guinea had a detachment of T-6Gs.

In 1957-58, the Spanish Air Force used T-6s as counterinsurgency aircraft in the Ifni War, armed with machine guns, iron bombs and rockets, achieving an excellent reputation due to its reliability, safety record and resistance to damage.

The Pakistan Air Force used T-6Gs in the 1971 war as a night ground support aircraft hitting enemy soft transport vehicles. In the early hours of 5 December, during a convoy interdiction mission in the same area, Squadron Leader Israr Quresh’s T-6G Harvard was hit by enemy ground fire and a shell fractured the pilot’s right arm. Profusely bleeding, the pilot flew the aircraft Back with his left hand and landed safely. The World War II vintage prop-engine trainers were pressed into service and performed satisfactorily in the assigned role of enemy convoys at night.

Mainly as a result of the United Nations arms embargo against South Africa’s Apartheid policies, T-6s remained in service with the South African Air Force as a basic trainer until 1995. They were replaced by Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II turboprop trainers.

In Popular Culture


After WWII, the National Air Races established a unique racing class for the AT-6/Texan/Harvard aircraft; This class continues today at the Reno National Air Races each year.

Since the Second World War, the T-6 has been a regular participant at air shows, and was used in many movies. For example, in Tora! Tora! Tora! and The Final Countdown, converted single-seat T-6s painted in Japanese markings represent Mitsubishi Zeroes, whereas in A Bridge too Far it represented the razorBack Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. The T-6 also appeared in the Pat Benatar video for Shadows of the Night. The New Zealand Warbirds Roaring 40s aerobatic team use ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force Harvard’s.

Recent Research Testbed


The Harvard 4 has also been recently used in Canada as a testbed aircraft for evaluating cockpit attitude displays. Its aerobatic capability permits the instructor pilot to maneuver the ship into unusual attitudes, then turn the craft over to an evaluator pilot in the blind rear cockpit to recover, based on one of several digitally-generated attitude displays.

Variants


North American BC Series

North American AT-6 Texan Series:

Noorduyn AT-16 Harvard Series:

T-6 Texan Series

SNJ Texan Series

Harvard Series

A-27

North American Aviation Company Designations


NAA Charge No.NAA Model or DesignationCustomerEngine InstalledNumberNotes
NA-16NA-16USAACWright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420-hp)1Prototype NX-2080, was open cockpit, received greenhouse canopy for trials
NA-18NA-18USAAC (trials)Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420-hp)1 (modified)Ex-NA-16, won against Seversky BT-8 and Curtiss-Wright CW-19R, to Argentina in 1937
NA-19NA-19, BT-9USAACWright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400-hp)42Minor changes from NA-18, new canopy
NA-19ANA-19A, BT-9AUSAACWright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400-hp)40Armed BT-9 with one cowl gun and one rear flexible gun, and suitably modified canopy.
NA-20NA-16-2HTrials, to Honduras (FAH)Wright R-975 Whirlwind (Unknown sub-type)1NC16025 originally intended as demonstrator for China
NA-22NA-22USAAC (rejected)Wright R-760ET (J-6-7) (225-hp)1Dangerously underpowered
NA-23NA-23, BT-9BUSAACWright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400-hp)117Unarmed. 1 modified as sole BT-9D as BT-14 prototype with new outer wings and other alterations.
NA-26BC-1Trials, to Canada (RCAF)P&W R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (550-hp)1Basic Combat Demonstrator NX18990 - no relation to later BC-1, first retractable gear variant, later modified with Yale parts.
NA-27NA-16-2HTo Fokker and Royal Netherlands AFP&W R-1340-S2H1 Wasp (500-hp)1European demonstrator armed NA-26 with fixed gear.
NA-28NJ-1USNP&W R-1340-6 Wasp (550-hp)40USN specification up engine BT-9 as advanced trainer, some re-engine with later R-1340 versions.
NA-29BT-9CUSAACWright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400-hp)67as per BT-9A with minor changes. First aircraft completed as Y1BT-10.
NA-30BT-10USAAC (canceled)P&W R-1340-41 Wasp (600-hp)0canceled production version of Y1BT-10
NA-31NA-16-4M, Sk-14, Sk-14ASweden (Flygvapnet)Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420-hp)
Piaggio P VIIc (525-hp)
137BT-9C but different engine variant. Licence production (NAA built 1, ASJA 76, SAAB 60), Trialled undercarriage for Saab 21.
NA-32NA-16-1AAustralia (RAAF)P&W R-1340 Wasp1Fixed gear pattern aircraft similar to NJ-1 or Y1BT-10, not followed up.
NA-33NA-16-2K, WirrawayAustralia (RAAF)P&W R-1340-S1H1G (600-hp)756Retractable gear pattern aircraft for Australia, 1 built by NAA and 755 by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation)
NA-34NA-16-4PArgentina (FAA)Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420-hp)29First major export order (not licence), had 2 cowl guns, a flexible rear gun and a radio mast
NA-36BC-1USAACP&W R-1340-47 Wasp (500-hp)177Retractable undercarriage and first aircraft with square bottom rudder. Large DF loop between undercarriage, blister covering fuel transfer gear along centerline aft of wheel wells.
NA-37NA-16-4R, KXA1Japan (IJN) (Evaluation)P&W R-985-9CG Wasp Junior (500-hp)1Technology demonstrator, unarmed, fixed landing gear and three bladed prop.
NA-38NA-16-4MSweden (Flygvapnet)Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420-hp)1same as NA-31
NA-41NA-16-4China (ROCAF)Wright R-975 Whirlwind35Similar to BT-9C with short fabric covered fuselage, combat aircraft with two fixed forward guns and one flexible rear gun.
NA-42NA-16-2AHonduras (FAH)P&W R-1340 Wasp (520-hp)2 
NA-43NA-16-1GBrazil (Army) (canceled)Wright R-975 Whirlwind0Similar to BT-9C
NA-44NA-44to Canada (RCAF)Wright SG-1820-F52 Cyclone (750-hp)1Prototype two-seat export combat aircraft similar to BC-1A
NA-45NA-16-1GVVenezuela (FAV)P&W R-1340 Wasp3Possibly originally built to Brazilian contract
NA-46NA-16-4Brazil (Navy)Wright R-975-53 Whirlwind(400-hp)12Similar to BT-9C with wingtip slats, small DF loop under fuselage.
NA-47NA-16-4RW, KXA-2Japan (IJN) (Evaluation)Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420-hp)1Technology demonstrator
NA-48NA-16-3CChina (ROCAF)P&W R-1340 Wasp15Similar to NA-45
NA-49NA-16-1E, Harvard IUnited Kingdom (RAF)P&W R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (600-hp)400Straight wing trailing edge, square rudder, short fabric covered fuselage, fixed rear canopy, no blister under wing center section
NA-50NA-50Peru (FAP)Wright R-1820-G3 Cyclone7Single seat fighter, NA-16-5
NA-52SNJ-1USNP&W R-1340-6 Wasp(500-hp)16Short metal fuselage, square rudder, late wings, fixed rear on canopy
NA-54BC-2USAACP&W R-1340-45 Wasp (600-hp)3Based on NA-36 with some improvements from NA-44, 3 bladed prop and two blister under wing center section.
NA-55-1BC-1AUSAACP&W R-1340-47/-49 Wasp (600-hp)83Bought for reserve and Air National Guard units.
NA-56NA-16-4China (ROCAF)P&W R-1340 Wasp50Similar to NA-55 (long metal fuselage, fixed gear and engine differences)
NA-57NA-57, NAA 57 P-2France (Armée de l’Air)Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420-hp)230Improved NA-23, many captured and used by Germany, some retained by Vichy France
NA-58BT-14, BT-14AUSAACP&W R-985-25 Wasp Junior251Similar to Harvard II except for fixed undercarriage and smaller engine. 27 re-engine with 400-hp (298-kW) P&W R-985-11 as BT-14A
NA-59AT-6-NAUSAACP&W R-1340-47 Wasp (600-hp)94First examples converted from NA-55 while still on production line, some examples had small DF loop installed
NA-61NA-16-1E, Harvard ICanada (RCAF)P&W R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (600-hp)30Later fitted with extended exhaust for cabin heater
NA-64NA-64, NAA 64-P2/Yale IFrance (Armée de l’Air)Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420-hp)230119 to Canada (RCAF) as Yale I, briefly used by France, many captured by Germany
NA-65SNJ-2USNP&W R-1340-36 Wasp36Blister covering fuel transfer gear along centerline aft of wheel wells
NA-66Harvard IIUnited Kingdom (RAF)P&W R-1340 Wasp600as per NA-59 but fixed rear canopy and no rear gun, also to RNZAF and RCAF, Southern Rhodesia
NA-68NA-50A, P-64Thailand (RTAF)Wright R-1820-77 Cyclone (870-hp)6Short outer wing panel angled much further forward than earlier types. Diverted with start of Pacific war to USAAF as P-64
NA-69NA-44, A-27Thailand (RTAF)Wright R-1820-75 Cyclone (745-hp)10Fully armed as attack aircraft. Diverted with start of Pacific war to USAAF as A-27
NA-71NA-16-3Venezuela (FAV)P&W R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (550-hp)3Two nose guns and rear gun, no wing guns.
NA-72NA-44Brazil (Army)P&W R-1340-AN1/S1H1 Wasp (600-hp)30Attack bomber, fitted with small DF loop under fuselage.
NA-74NA-44Chile (FACh)P&W R-1340 Wasp12Attack bomber, fitted with small DF loop under fuselage.
NA-75Harvard IICanada (RCAF)P&W R-1340 Wasp100Follow on order to NA-66
NA-76Harvard IIUnited Kingdom (RAF)P&W R-1340 Wasp450Originally ordered by France, taken over by RAF, many to RCAF
NA-77AT-6A, SNJ-3USAAC, USNP&W R-1340 Wasp637same as NA-66
NA-78AT-6A, SNJ-3/3CUSAAC, USNP&W R-1340 Wasp568As NA-77, first aircraft built in Texas, and to use name Texan
NA-79SNJ-2USNP&W R-1340-56 Wasp25 
NA-81Harvard IIUnited Kingdom (RAF)P&W R-1340 Wasp125same as previous RAF Harvard II order.
NA-84AT-6BUSAACP&W R-1340-AN-1 Wasp (600-hp)400 
NA-85SNJ-3USNP&W R-1340 Wasp0canceled duplicate of NA-78 for record purposes.
NA-88AT-6C, AT-6D, XAT-6E, SNJ-4, SNJ-5USAAC/USAAF, USNP&W R-1340 Wasp/Ranger V-7709,331(last 800 as NA-121) AT-6D used 24 volt electrics, vs previous 12 volt systems. XAT-6E used Ranger V-770.
NA-119AT-6DBrazil (FAB)P&W R-1340 Wasp8120 examples built in Brazil under licence
NA-121AT-6D, AT-6FUSAAF, USNP&W R-1340 Wasp4,378800 AT-6Ds, 211 SNJ-5, 956 AT-6F and 411 SNJ-6. AT-6F and SNJ-6 have clear fixed rear canopy section
NA-128AT-6DUSAAF, USNP&W R-1340 Wasp0Canceled orders to have been built in Texas.
NA-168T-6G, LT-6GUSAF/US ANGP&W R-1340 Wasp109Re-manufactured and updated from earlier versions. Mostly internal but canopy simplified slightly.
NA-182T-6G, LT-6GUSAF/US ANGP&W R-1340 Wasp824as per NA-168, Re-manufactured/updated.
NA-186Harvard IVCanada (RCAF)/US MDAPP&W R-1340 Wasp555Design Data for Canadian Car and Foundry possibly to build Harvard IV or T-6G, sole new post war production.
NA-188T-6G, LT-6GUSAF/US ANGP&W R-1340 Wasp107Re-manufactured and converted from earlier versions.
NA-195T-6G, LT-6GUSAF/US ANGP&W R-1340 Wasp11Re-manufactured and converted from earlier versions.
NA-197T-6GUSAF/US ANGP&W R-1340 Wasp110Re-manufactured and converted from T-6D.
NA-198SNJ-8USNP&W R-1340 Wasp0canceled Contract for SNJ-8 (similar to T-6G)

Operators


Specifications AT-6C (NA-88)


Type

Wings

Fuselage

Tail Unit

Landing Gear

Power Plant

Accommodation

Armament

Dimensions

Weights and Loadings

Performance

References



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