The AT-6 was the most widely used
training aircraft of all time and
rightly earned the title "The Pilot
Maker." After graduating from
the BT-13, pilots were introduced to
all of the complexity of fighter
aircraft in this Advanced Trainer.
With a 600 horsepower radial engine,
flaps, retractable landing gear and
an adjustable pitch propeller, the
T-6 was the "pass-fail" course for
World War II era pilots. Once
you proved you could handle the T-6,
you earned the right to fly almost
anything in the inventory.
Notice what is called the "buzz
number," which on this airplane is
142. It is called a buzz
number because if you buzzed a
farmhouse showing off for your
friends or family on the ground, you
could be identified by the number
flying the airplane that day.
That was pretty much guaranteed to
get you in trouble, if not actually
thrown out of flight training.
Don't let the black and white photo
fool you.
This is our airplane, the airplane
you see on every can of T-6 Red Ale.
We use the buzz number to identify
our brewing operation, the 142nd
Brewing Squadron. Obviously,
we love this airplane.
|
North American AT-6
Specifications: |
|
Nickname: "The Pilot Maker" |
|
Engine: Pratt&Whitney R-1340
Radial, 9 Cylinder, 600 hp |
|
Wing Span: 42 ft. Length: 27
ft, 3 in. Height: 11 ft, 9
in. |
|
Weight: Empty: 4158 lbs. Max
Take-Off: 5300 lbs. |
|
Maximum Speed: 175 mph |
|
Service Ceiling: 19,000 ft. |
|
Range: 810 miles |
|
Crew: Two |
|
Number Built: 17,000+ |
|
Flying Today: Approximately
400 |
