A High-Performance Warbird Trainer

When you climb into the front hole of the T-6 it feels like a fighter. And one reason it feels like a fighter is because North American designed the Texan to give the student the feel and controls of a big bird with less speed and a more forgiving nature. Cranking up a round engine is one of the world’s true sensual delights, and it’s made even more so if an inertia starter is being used. The whine of the starter winding up and the descending mechanical growl of engagement are right out of a late-night movie soundtrack. And of course, as the engine coughs into life, blowing smoke and noise past your elbows, which are sticking out over the canopy rails, the mechanical nostalgia gets even deeper. As soon as the power is against the stop, the tail is picked up gently (repeat, gently) and the airplane will fly off with little or no provocation from the pilot, who thinks he’s in command. Hoist the tail vigorously and you’ll get a surprisingly quick swing to the left as the gyroscopic precession of the prop kicks in. One note of caution: Like any warbird, the T-6 is a high-performance machine possessed of high-performance quirks and maintenance. So don’t go up with just any T-6 driver since the law of averages says there’s bound to be at least a few who don’t get enough time to stay truly proficient. Don’t be afraid to ask around before jumping in with someone who may or may not be as good as he or she thinks they are.