AT-6 of the Peruvian Air Force

The AT-6 Texan was a single-engine training aircraft. Its first flight took place on April 1st, 1935. There was a total of 15,495 units built. The AT-6 was used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, and other air forces prior, during, and after World War II. The AT-6 Texan originated from the North American NA-16 prototype. Thanks to its stability and control at low speeds, the T-6G was used in the light attack or counter-insurgency role by the French Air Force.

Some of its major operators were: The United States Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, Royal Air Force, French Air Force, Spanish Air Force, Peruvian Air Force, Argentine Naval Aviation, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, Colombian Air Force, Portuguese Air Force and Portuguese Navy.

The Model Kit:

1:72 Encore Kit

Chosen Configuration:

AT-6 Texan in service with the Peruvian Air Force, extended landing gear, standard training colors: blue and yellow.

Markings:

Peruvian Flag (Red and white) on the rudder. Peruvian Air Force insignia on the sides of the plane and over the left-wing and under the right-wing. Airplane Identification number on the sides of the fuselage and behind the insignia and on top of the right-wing and under the left-wing.

The Reference Material:

Diagrams:

The following diagram was obtained from the archives of the Peruvian Air Force and it shows in detail how the insignias and numbering scheme had to be applied to the airplanes. The diagram also shows the Federal Standard reference colors.

Photos:

The black & white picture obtained from the Aero-Photography Service of the Peruvian Air Force, shows a North American AT-6 at the Air Force base of “Las Palmas” in Lima, Peru.

North American Aviation AT-6 “Texan” – General Specifications:

  • Crew: two (student and instructor)

  • Length: 29 ft (8.84 m)

  • Wingspan: 42 ft (12.81 m)

  • Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.57 m)

  • Wing area: 253.7 ft² (23.6 m²)

  • Empty weight: 4,158 lb (1,886 kg)

  • Loaded weight: 5,617 lb (2,548 kg)

  • Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW)


Performance:

  • Maximum speed: 208 mph at 5,000 ft (335 km/h at 1,500 m)

  • Cruise speed: 145 mph (233 km/h)

  • Range: 730 miles (1,175 km)

  • Service ceiling: 24,200 ft (7,400 m)

  • Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)

  • Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)

  • Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)


Armament:

  • Provision for up to 3× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun