T-28 Trojan
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- This refers to the aircraft. For other uses see T-28 (disambiguation).
| T-28 Trojan | |
|---|---|
 T-28B Trojan [1] |
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| Type | Trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
| Maiden flight | 24 September 1949 |
| Primary users | United States Air Force United States Navy South Vietnamese Air Force Argentine Navy |
The North American T-28 Trojan was a piston-engined military trainer aircraft used by the United States armed forces in the 1950s and into the early 1980s. The largest single concentration of this aircraft was employed by the U.S. Navy at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida in the training of student naval aviators. The last U.S. Navy training squadron to fly the T-28 was VT-27, based at NAS Corpus Cristi, Texas, flying the last T-28 training flight in early 1984. Many T-28s were subsequently sold to private civil operators, and due to their reasonable operating costs are often found flying as warbirds today.
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[edit] Design and development
On 24 September 1949 the XT-28 (company designation NA-159) was flown for the first time, designed to replace the T-6 Texan. Found satisfactory, a contract was issued and between 1950 and 1957 a total of 1,948 were built. The T-28's service career ended by the introduction of the T-34 turboprop trainer.
Following the T-28's withdrawal from service, a number were remanufactured by Hamilton Aircraft in two versions called the Nomair. The first refurbished machines, designated T-28R-1 were little different from the standard T-28s they were adapted from, and were supplied to the Brazilian Navy. Later, a more ambitious conversion was undertaken as the T-28R-2, which transformed the two-seat tandem aircraft into a five-seat cabin monoplane for general aviation use.
[edit] Operational history
In the COIN role, T-28s saw extensive service during the Vietnam War in VNAF hands, as well as the Secret War in Laos. They were also supplied to Congo by the CIA to support Moise Tshombe's regime. France used locally remanufactured T-28s in close-support and patrol roles in Algeria. In the Philippines, T-28s, known locally as "Tora-toras", figured prominently in a series of coup de etats in the 1980s and were employed as dive bombers by rebel military forces. The T-28 Trojan was the first US attack fixed wing aircraft (non-transport type) lost in SOUTH Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. Capt. Robert L. Simpson, USAF, Detachment 2A, lst Air Commando Group, and Lt. Hoa, SVNAF, were shot down by ground fire on 28 August 1962 while flying Close Air Support (CAS). Neither crewman survived. The USAF lost 23 T-28s to all causes during the war, with the last two losses occurring in 1968. [2]
[edit] Variants
- XT-28
- Prototype, 2 built.
- T-28A
- US Air Force version with an 800 hp (597 kW) R-1300 Cyclone engine, 1,194 built.
- T-28B
- US Navy version with 1,425 hp (1,063 kW) engine, 489 built.
- T-28C
- US Navy version, a T-28B with tailhook for deck landing training, 266 built.
- T-28D Nomad
- T-28As converted for the counter insurgency (COIN) role. Re-engined as per the T-28B and C, and fitted with six underwing hardpoints. Total 393 converted - 321 by NAA, plus 72 by Fairchild Hiller.
- AT-28D
- T-28Ds used for attack training by the USAF.
- Fennec
- Ex-USAF T-28As refurbished and modified by Sud-Aviation in France
- T-28R-1 Nomair
- Ex-USAF T-28s refurbished for Brazilian Navy
- T-28R-2 Nomair
- Ex-USAF T-28s converted into general aviation aircraft
[edit] Operators
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[edit] Specifications (T-28D)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft 1 in (12.22 m)
- Height: 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
- Wing area: 268 ft² (24.9 m²)
- Empty weight: 6,424 lb (2,914 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,500 lb (3,856 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-86 Cyclone radial engine, 1,425 hp (1,063 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 343 mph (552 km/h)
- Service ceiling 35,500 ft (10,820 m)
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ T-28 Serials
- ^ Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF/NAVY/MARINE, Fixed Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast 1961-1973. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001. ISBN 1-8578-0115-6.
[edit] Bibliography
- Avery, Norm. North American Aircraft: 1934-1998 Volume 1. Santa Ana, CA: Narkiewicz-Thompson, 1998. ISBN 0-91332-205-9.
- North American T-28 Trojan (Variants/Other Names: AT-28; Fennec)
- Thompson, Kevin. North American Aircraft: 1934-1998 Volume 2. Santa Ana, CA: Narkiewicz-Thompson, 1999. ISBN 0-913322-06-7.
[edit] External links
- T-28 Trojan
- Warbird Alley: T-28 page
- T-28 FENNEC : History + 2006 inventory
- T-28 Trojan Registry: The histories of those aircraft that survived military service
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