North American T-6 Texan

Trainer aircraft developed in the 1930s

Overview

North American Aviation (NAA) United States ICAO: T6 1935–1945 Active

The North American T-6 Texan was designed by North American Aviation as a single-engine advanced trainer used by the United States Army Air Force, United States Navy, Royal Air Force, and some air forces of the British Commonwealth. It served during the Second World War until the 1970s.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial engine
Engine type
other: Other
Power
600 hp · 447 kW
Avionics
VHF command set, Radio Compass, ILS
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
2
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
29 ft 6 in  ·  8.99 m
Tail height
11 ft 9 in  ·  3.58 m
Fuselage diameter
4 ft 7 in  ·  1.40 m
Wing span
42 ft 4 in  ·  12.90 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
5,600 lb  ·  2,550 kg
Max landing weight
5,350 lb  ·  2,400 kg
Max payload
550 lb  ·  250 kg
Fuel capacity
140 gal · 500 L · 400 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
181 kt  ·  208 mph  ·  335 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
56 kt  ·  64 mph  ·  104 km/h
Range
630 nm  ·  720 mi  ·  1,170 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
24,200 ft  ·  7,400 m
Rate of climb
1,200 ft/min  ·  6 m/s
Takeoff distance
—
Landing distance
—
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Two U.S. Army Air Forces North American AT-6C-NT Texan trainers in flight.

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Operational Context

The North American T-6 Texan was built in several versions and was known by different designations according to the model and the controlling air force. The AT-6 was a designation from the United States Army Air Corps and the United States Army Air Force. The SNJ was designated by the United States Navy, and the Harvard by British Commonwealth Air Forces.

In 1948, the aircraft was designated as T-6 by the USAF and followed by the USN in 1962. The T-6G was an earlier model AT-6/T-6 reconstructed from 1949 to 1953. It featured an enhanced cockpit configuration, more fuel capacity, easy-to-steer tailwheel, upgraded radios, and an R-1340-AN-1 engine rated at 600 horsepower. This version is easy to identify because of its canopy framing. A total of 2,068 T-6Gs were modified.

The T-6G can accommodate two crew members; a student and an instructor. It has an external length of 8.84 meters, an external height of 2.9 meters, and a fuselage width of 1.4 meters. The tail height is 3.57 meters and the wheelbase is 6.2 meters. It has a wingspan of 12.81 meters and a wing area of 23.6 square meters. The empty weight is 1,886 kg and the gross weight is 2,548 kg. The maximum landing weight is 2,417 kg, the maximum payload is 250 kg, and the fuel tank capacity is 140 US gal.

The T-6G is fitted with a Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp engine. It is a nine-cylinder single-row radial engine with two overhead valves per cylinder, a single-speed centrifugal-type supercharger, two-barrel Stromberg carburetor, and an air-cooling system. The engine is rated at 600 hp thrust. The T-6G has a maximum speed of 181 knots at 5,000 feet and a cruise speed of 126 knots. The travel range is 630 nautical miles. It can fly up to 24,200 feet and can climb at a rate of 1,200 feet per minute. The aircraft is armed with provision for up to three 7.62 mm machine gun.