A formation aerobatic team flying the World War II North American Advanced Trainer, the aircraft that launched thousands of American and Canadian cadets on their flying careers generations ago, now thrill audiences everywhere as the pilots who make up The AeroShell Aerobatic Team take these valiant old birds through a series of precision formation aerobatic maneuvers. The Team combines the skill, competence and flair of these pilots with the roar and billowing smoke of the powerful 600 HP Pratt and Whitney engines. Performing a series of precision formation aerobatic maneuvers, including their bomb burst, vertical rejoin, avalanche, the breath-taking "Switch Blade", along with graceful loops and rolls. The Team will bring a lump to your throat and a tear of remembrance to your eye.

The Team:
Alan Henley - Lead Pilot
Alan has been performing in air shows throughout the United States and Canada since 1980. Having soloed at the age of sixteen, he has flown over 90 different airplanes ranging from the Piper Cub to the P-51 Mustang. He holds FAA Type Ratings in the North American B-25, Gruman C-1, Gruman TBM, Douglas A-26, Douglas AD-4 Skyraider, Douglas DC-3, Lockheed 18, and an unlimited LOA for experimental aircraft. He is also an ICAS ACE Examiner, A&P Mechanic, and CFI. His love of flying and knowledge of aerobatics give Alan the Skill and competence necessary to lead the AeroShell Aerobatic Team.

Mark Henley - Right Wing
Mark has been flying airshows for over 10 years. He has flown several types of aircraft, but prefers the WWII aircraft. Before joining the team he performed in a stock PT-17 Stearman, North American AT-6, and North American P-51D. Mark has flown over 50 different types of aircraft and has type ratings in the AD4 Skyraider, Grumman TBM, Douglas DC3, and the North American B-25 Mitchell. He also holds a letter of Authorization (LOA) that covers all piston powered experimental aircraft, single and multiengine. Mark is employed by the Henley family business, BEBCO, in Birmingham, AL. Mark is the brother of the lead pilot Alan Henley.

Steve Gustafson - Right/Left Wing
Steve owns and operates his own Aerial Application business and farms in the Louisiana Delta. By the age of 20, he had accumulated over 7,000 flying hours and hold a commercial, multi-engine instrument and a type rating in the North American B-25. He is a graduate of Sowela Technical University with an A&P license. Steve, the son of the late Merle Gustafson (Angel of Okinawa Corsair fame), started flying air shows at the age of 19 and has inherited his Dad's skill for aerobatics and formation while acquiring a competence and style all his own. Steve is also an ICAS ACE Examiner. Steve flies left and right wing for the team.

Gene McNeely - Right Wing/Slot
Gene became interested in flying in high school. Afterwards, he served a tour in the Navy, then began flight instructing and crop dusting. Gene operated his own agricultural business for over twenty years as well as an air cargo service operating DC-3s and MU-2s. Gene's favorite aircraft is the T-6. In addition to performing in air shows, Gene races in a T-6 at the Reno Air Races and has been finishing in the top five since 1986, taking 5^th in the Gold in 1990 and 1^st in the Silver in 1991.

THE PLANES  
The North American Advanced Trainer AT-6

The North American AT-6 Texan/Harvard/SNJ and NA-16, first appeared in 1938 and was similar to and eventually replaced the BC-1A basic-combat trainer when the BC classification was abandoned. But the BC-1A itself was only one of a very large number of aircraft that stemmed from the NA-16 of 1935.

Originally designed as a basic trainer for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), the NA-16 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane powered by a 400 HP Wright Whirlwind engine. The two tandem cockpits were open and the fixed landing-gear legs were trousered. Following selection by the Army, the prototype was modified to near production standard, with a hastily fitted long cockpit enclosure, a revised landing gear and a long-cord cowling round the 600 HP Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp engine.

Production aircraft for the US services and for export to many countries were built under a wide range of NA, NJ, BC and BT designations. They were used as combat trainers, basic trainers, general-purpose aircraft and bombers. They featured a wide range of engines, fixed or retractable landing gear and varying cockpit enclosures. One BT-9 was modified into the NA-22 with open cockpits and a 225 HP Wright R-760 engine.

The first model to introduce the AT Texan (Advanced Trainer) designation was the NA-59 ordered for the USAAC. As the NA-66 or Harvard II it was supplied to the airforces of Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand, following the Harvard I (NA-49) previously supplied to Britain and Canada. The AT-6A (US Navy SNJ-3) was powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-49 engine and had a removable aluminum fuel tank. It was also built under license in Canada by Noorduyn Aviation as the Harvard IIB, 2,485 going to the RAF alone and those supplied to the USAAC becoming AT-16's. The AT-6B was fitted with an R-1340-AN-1 engine.

The AT-6C (SNJ-4 and Harvard IIA) differed in being redesigned to eliminate the use of aluminum-alloy and high-alloy steels. the wings, center section, fin rudder, elevator, ailerons, flaps, etc., were made of spot-welded low-alloy steel. The side panels of the forward fuselage and the entire rear fuselage, tailplane, floor boards, etc., were of plywood - introducing a weight savings of 1,246 pounds. However, fear of shortages of strategic materials proved unsubstantiated and the normal structure was reverted back. The AT-6D (SNJ-5 and Harvard III), nearly 4,400 of which were built, retained the R-1340-AN-1 engine but no photographic equipment fitted. The final production version was the AT-6F, most going to US Navy as SNJ-6's.

In post war USAF service, Texans were redesignated under the T-6 classification, new versions being produced by modification. Today Texans/Harvards are still flown as basic trainers and light attack aircraft by the airforces of 22 countries, although no longer in the USA. Among the purpose-built combat aircraft based on the AT-6 were the NA-50 and the NA-68 single-seat fighter-bombers, built for Peru and Siam respectively. The latter were retained for the USAAF as P-64 trainers.

SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 AN-1
Wing Span: 42 ft.
Length: 29 ft. 6 in.
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 5,617 lbs.
Maximum Level Speed: 212 mph
Normal Range: 870 miles
Armament: Under wing attachments for light bombs and rockets

http://www.naat.net/

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