North American T-6/SNJ Texan/Harvard

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: North American Model: T-6/SNJ. Nickname: Texan or Harvard
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single Engine piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 7/31/2026
> Number of Hours Flown: 23
> Number of Times Flown: 20
> Other Aircraft Models Associated:

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 40
> Date First Flown: 3/30/1998
> Location First Flown: NAS Patuxent River, MD
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Bob Ellis, Kalamazoo Air Zoo

Recollections: My first flight in a T-6/SNJ was with Bob Ellis of the Kalamazoo (Michigan) “Air Zoo” museum in 1988.  He brought the T-6 to Pax River for a student Qual Eval and I flew it as part of the Staff.  Next time was in 1997 for a very similar exercise (this time with a different vendor, whose name I did not record).  The next time was in 2024 for my “FAM 1” with amazing Warbird Pilot Michael Kopp after having purchased into a partnership!  The airplane is amazing, in part because it flew with the South African Airforce from WWII thru 1995. Having been professionally maintained by an Air Force for all those years means it’s in wonderful shape and has virtually every mod. That has continued to this day with a great group of partners dedicated to preserving this wonderful machine.

The T-6/SNJ was the Army Air Corps’ and Navy’s advanced trainer in WWII.  Aspiring aviators would fly the Stearman and then the Texan/Harvard.   

Being lucky enough to be part owner of one now, I appreciate the complexity of this WWII design, with an interesting hydraulic system and full instrument panel.  It’s a pleasure to fly and I feel lucky to be able to preserve the history.