T-28 Trojan
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- This refers to the aircraft. For other uses see T-28 (disambiguation).
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 1970s. The largest single concentration of this aircraft was employed by the US Navy at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida in the training of student naval aviators. Many 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] Development
On September 24 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.
[edit] Service 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.
[edit] Variants
- XT-28 - Prototype, two built.
- T-28A - US Air Force version with an 800 hp (597 kW) 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 - T-28As converted for the counter insurgency (COIN) role. Re-engined as per the T-28B and C, and fitted with six underwing hardpoints. (321 converted 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
[edit] Users
- United States Air Force
- United States Navy
- Royal Moroccan Air Force
- Vietnamese Air Force
- Congolese Air Force
- French Air Force
- Argentine Navy
- Royal Thai Air Force
- Philippine Air Force
- Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Japan, Laos, Mexico, South Korea.
[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] External links
[edit] Related content
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
PT-25 - PT-26 - PT-27 - T-28 - T-29 - XT-30 - T-31
