In her basic design, the AT-6 sported a two-seat glazed canopy cockpit with student and instructor seated in tandem. The engine was mounted at extreme forward of the design with the cantilever wings low-mounted just under the forward area of the cockpit. The empennage ended in a single vertical tail surface. The view forward was acceptable but not wholly ideal though the all-around vision was more than adequate. As a design primarily utilized for training, the aircraft was more than up to the task, providing operational speeds of over 200 miles per hour and a ceiling of over 20,000 feet with a 750 mile range.
During World War 2, the AT-6 was used extensively by military branches around the world as a primary fighter trainer training thousands of pilots in the nuances of fighter tactics and general flight. Armament was optional, as flight training was the primary focus, but could consist of two forward-fixed 7.62mm machine guns. The Texan survived to take part in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts - revised and in specialized forms - serving as Forward Air Control (FAC) systems supporting land forces in action.
The T-6 still maintains an aerial profile to some extent in today's skies as a fixture of collectors, warbird enthusiasts and air shows alike. Her resilient construction, favorable flight characteristics and fabled history have ensured her future success for the time being. Many an Allied pilot in the Second World War can attribute their education in flight to the development of this fine machine.
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