History:
Aircraft was built in Texas and delivered to the Navy at Pensacola Naval Air Station in September of 1944. Used to train Navy Pilots, for the War in the Pacific, and after the War. Surplussed out and sold to a parts dealer in Maryland in 1958. Probably sold for $500. He bought a lot of WWII aircraft and sold parts mainly to the ag type duster aircraft. My aircraft was in storage from 1958 until 1988 when I purchased it. When I bought the project it had not been registered and still was property of the Navy.
| Registration Number | Date of Manufacture |
| N645DS | 1944 |
| Aircraft Role | Nickname |
| Trainer | “Pilot Maker” and well know as the “Texan” |
| Aircraft Type: | Wingspan: |
| North American AT-6/SNJ/ Harvard | 42 feet .25 inches |
| Overall length: | Empty weight: |
| 29 feet 6 inches | 4158 pounds |
| Gross weight: | Fuel capacity: |
| 5300 pounds | 110 gallons/ 550 miles |
| Oil capacity | Engine type: |
| 10 Gallons of Phillips 25/60 | Single 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R1340 AN-1 radial piston engine |
| Propeller type: | Max Speed |
| Hamilton Standard 12D40 | 205 mph |
| Rate of Climb | Cruise Speed |
| 800 Feet per minute | 155 mph |
| Service Ceiling | Number of Crew |
| 21,500 feet from the book, never been that high | Two |
| Armament | Bomb Load |
| None | None |
| Number Built | Number Surviving |
| 13000 | 800+ |
 |
 |
 |
Restoration
As you can see the aircraft was definitely a case for major work. We bought all the manuals and went to work. The bigger problem was dealing with the FAA to get ownership of the project. It took 4 years of back and forth and finally my registration showed up. I now own the aircraft. The bureau number was 90645. That the military way and identify aircraft. So I used the 45 as the buss number and the 645 with my initials DS as the N number. N645DS, the civilian registration number.
The work went on, total dis-assembly, all new bolts, wiring, hydraulics, fabric, paint, overhauled engine, overhauled prop. Ended up with a new airplane.
The Texan flew the first time since 1958 on July 20, 1999. Two days later it was in OSH. We were pleased to receive the Best T-6 award. On to Sun-N-Fun 2000 and Grand Champion WWII. Many awards since.
Now spends its time flying formation with other NATA members.
Restoration Images
 |
 |
 |
| Top |
Printable QR Codes for: Don and Coralie Stamp’s North American SNJ-5 (T-6 for you Army people) Trainer, the Texan:
Please read before printing the Avery style labels
Top
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.