Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1516 T-6 Texan Fundacion Infante De Orleans/Cuatro Vientos/E.16-198, 793-25

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic. Very collectable

North American Aviation won a competition to build a basic trainer that would prepare pilots in over 50 countries for over 50 years. The design known as the T-6 has a variety of designations depending on the country that owned them and the model variant. The USAAC referred to them as AT-6 (Advanced Trainer) while the USN designated them SNJ. The British Commonwealth countries referred to them as Harvards. In all their variants there were 15,495 aircraft built.

In the 1950s Spain established economic and political ties with the U.S.A.. Because of these new links Spain was able to procure F-86 and T-33 aircraft along with transports and training aircraft. In 1954 the first Spanish Air Force aerobatic team was formed at the Basic Training School using six T-6s. In 1957-58 the Spanish Air Force used the T-6s as COIN (counter-insurgency) aircraft during the Infi War. This war was against the Moroccan Liberation Army who claimed territory that Spain considered belonging to them. The Spanish AF installed 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in each wing. They also modified them to carry 200 kg bombs or unguided rockets under each wing. Spain discontinued the use of the T-6 in 1986. Some examples of these aircraft can be found at the aviation preservation museum Fundacion Infante De Orleans/Cuatro Vientos, located in Madrid, Spain.

T-6G TEXAN (HARVARD)

Powerplant: 1 x 550 hp P&W R-1340-AN-1 piston engine Speed: 341kph, 212mph Range: 1,400km, 870miles Seats: 2 Length: 9.00m, 29ft 6in Span: 12.90m, 42.32ft Empty Weight: 1,886kg, 4,158lb Max T/O Weight: 2,550kg, 5,617lb Period of Service with SAAF: 1942 - 1995