flyboy Q:

[bobski]

T6 or T28.
how did you start out?
care to compare if you flew both?

 

[Snake45]

My Dad started out with the T-6 in 1952. He only flew the T-28 later.

I don't think there was a whole lot of training overlap. I think you either trained on one or the other, depending on time.

In other words, the T-28 replaced the T-6.

I've never heard of anyone who started in the T-28 and then went to T-6 training later, though of course there were many pilots who were trained on T-28 who later on flew T-6 in civilian life.

 

[Bob Wright]

When I was a youngster, the Texan was known as the AT-6, for Advanced Trainer. They were seen pretty frequently over Memphis as they were also used as V.I.P. transports for one person.

Not only was the T-6 used for pilot training, it was also used to train aerial gunners, as the back seat rotated and the rear turtleshell canopy could be opened forward to provide a field of fire for the student gunner.


Bob Wright

 

[Wyandot Jim]

When I was a youngster, the Texan was known as the AT-6, for Advanced Trainer. They were seen pretty frequently over Memphis as they were also used as V.I.P. transports for one person.

Not only was the T-6 used for pilot training, it was also used to train aerial gunners, as the back seat rotated and the rear turtleshell canopy could be opened forward to provide a field of fire for the student gunner.


Bob Wright

You mean like our SNJ-4 "Fly Navy" :D :D :D It also has a 30 in the wing and the nose for the pilot gunnery training along with hard points on the wings for bombs and a camera behind the back seat to record the bomb hits.

.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Now to the original post.
The T-28 replaced the T-6/SNJ. The T-28 was made to be more like the Jets of the Day. The Texan was made to be like the piston fighters of the day. Many say that you should start out in a fighter then go to the Texan. It was called the Pilot Maker for a VERY GOOD REASON. Trust me it is a hand full in more ways than one.

 

[Snake45]

Many say that you should start out in a fighter then go to the Texan. It was called the Pilot Maker for a VERY GOOD REASON.

I've read many, many WWII fighter pilots say that after training in the T-6, moving up to the F6F, P-47, P-40, P-51, whatever, was very easy and held few if any surprises.

Note that in WWII, the T-6 would have been the third or fourth or fifth airplane you flew in training. But 10 years later, the T-6 was the starting point. My Dad told me his first T-6 training flight was his first ride in an airplane. :shock:

 

[Jeepnik]

Looks wise I think the T-37 was cool. But Tweety could deafen you. The pitch sent straight to your fillings.