North American T.28B Trojan

The T-28 Trojan was developed by North American Aviation as a replacement for the venerable T-6 Texan (a.k.a Harvard) which had been used as an advanced trainer aircraft since the late 1930’s. Like the T-6, the Trojan went on to serve with the US Navy and Marine Corps as well as the US Air Force. The B-model seen here was specifically designed for the Navy and it featured the addition of a belly-mounted speed brake and a more powerful 1425hp engine (compared to the 800hp one in the original A-model which is easily identifiable by its earlier two-bladed propellor).

Peter Vause taxis past the crowd line at Classic Fighters 2023 (Omaka Aerodrome, Blenheim, NZ) Photo: © Zac Yates

 Year: 1949  Built: 1,948 (489 B-models) Registration: ZK-TPV  Top Speed: 552 km/h  Wingspan: 12.22m  Height: 3.86m  Length:10.06m Engine: 1425hp Wright R-1820-86 Cyclone 9-cylinder radial Ceiling: 10,820m  Range: 1706km Armament: 6 x underwing hardpoints with a capacity of 540 kg (1,200 lb) in total 

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    • While the USAF stopped using the T-28 for pilot training in the early 1960’s, it continued to be used as a primary trainer by the Marine Corps and US Coast Guard well into the 1980s. The last Trojans in military service were eventually retired from the Phillipine Air Force in 1994.

    In the late 1950s, several hundred surplus 'A' models were sold to France, and these were upgraded by Sud Avaition to feature a larger R-1820 engine, various other minor improvments, and armament for combat use by the French Air Force. These are often refered to as FENNEC, T-28S (Sud) or T-28F models and many saw combat in Algeria in the early 1960s.

    US contractors later converted more surplus T-28A's to T-28D's, which becamne known as the "Nomad", and whichs was modified for counter-insurgency operations and used extensively during the Vietnam War, primarily by the South Vietnamese Air Force and other Southeast Asian air forces. It was equipped for light attack roles, fitted with hardpoints to carry bombs, rockets, and machine guns. The T-28D was valued for its robustness and effectiveness in close air support and counter-insurgency operations.

    Brett Emeny's last public display in his Trojan T.28C.

    The T-28 also saw action in Africa, notably during the Congo Crisis in the 1960s. The Congolese Air Force used T-28s supplied by the United States for ground attack missions against rebel forces. These aircraft played a significant role in providing air support during various military operations in the conflict.

    View of the Trojan landing following a display at Wings Over Wairarapa.  Photo: © Historical Aviation Film Unit

    While it is now retired from military service, the T-28 continues to be a popular warbird, and it's prized by private collectors due to its historical significance and flight performance.

    More Videos:

    • Trojan T.28C Display At Ardmore

    • Rob Sillich's Display At Ardmore

    • Another Trojan T-28B Overseas


    More Photos:

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