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SNJ-5C
AT-6D
N621BC
90654BC
USMC
Long time Estrella Warbirds Museum member, Bud Cashen, recently offered the permanent loan of his North American Cashen SNJ-5C/AT-6D for static display in Paso Robles.
The North American SNJ-5C is a single engine advanced trainer type aircraft, originally used to train pilots of the USAF, US Navy plus other air forces including the Royal Air Force, during World War II and well into the
1950's. North American Aviation first developed the AT-6 Texan (or N-16 in development). Depending upon the model and the operating air force, the plane was know with a myriad of designations. The USA Air Corps designated it as the "AT-6", the US Navy as "SNJ" and the British named it the "Harvard."
Museum volunteers prep plane for transport to Paso Robles during late December, 2010. Detailed information concerning this specific aircraft and data on similar airplanes will be available shortly.
The Texan was first flown on April 1st, 1935 with the first production models following two years later. Nearly 17,000 of these aircraft, in all variants, were produced. |
The Texan was first flown on April 1st, 1935 with the first production models following two years later. Nearly 17,000 of these aircraft, in all variants, were produced. The AT-6 saw service in Korea and to a lesser extent during the Vietnam conflict as forward air control aircraft. A Harvard became the longest serving aircraft for the RAF, first flown in 1945 and was still active into the 1990's as a chase plane for helicopter test flights.
Since the end of World War II, the T-6
has found a loyal followers at air shows and races. The T-6 still holds a class in the Reno Air races during the Nationals each year. Movie goers have seen the AT-6 in numerous movies as an allied plane plus converted single seat versions were painted with Japanese markings to represent the Mitsubishi Zero for the filming of Tora! Tora! Tora!
Power plant: |
One 550 HP Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 |
Personnel: |
Tandem co-pilots with individually operated sliding enclosures |
Armament: |
Three 30 cal machine-guns |
| Wingspan: |
42 ft |
| Length: |
29 ft 6 inches |
| Height: |
11 ft 8 inches |
| Wing Area: |
253.7 sq ft |
| Empty Weight: |
4,158 lbs |
| Gross Weight: |
5,300 lbs |
| Maximum Speed: |
205 mph @5,000 ft |
| Cruising Speed: |
170 mph @ 5,000 ft |
| Landing Speed: |
63 mpg |
| Ceiling: |
21,500 ft |
| Range: |
750 miles |
| Status: |
Currently under restoration for static display |
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