Photo by Jim Koepnick

“Those who own and operate T-28s, veterans who trained in them, and those who simply admire these airplanes are invited to participate,” said Bill Fischer, executive director of the EAA Warbirds of America.

As jets replaced piston aircraft following World War II, the Air Force needed to upgrade its trainers. The T-6 had a conventional landing gear (tailwheel) and was not suited to train pilots advancing to tricycle-geared jets.

In September 1949, the XT-28 prototype made its maiden flight, and soon T- 28As were rolling off the assembly line to succeed T-6s as training aircraft for the United States. Nearly 1,200 A models, powered by 800-hp Wright R-1300 engines, were produced between 1950-1958.

In the early 1950s, the Navy began training its pilots with T-28Bs, which had higher horsepower (1,425) Wright R-1820 engines, a three-blade prop, and other modifications for higher performance. The C model, which got structural modifications and a tail hook, was produced from 1955-57. B and C models were in use by the Navy until 1984.

 T-28s also saw combat as the French Fennec in the 1950s and in Southeast Asia by the U.S. Air Force in the early 1960s—with the D model, a modified T- 28A airframes with Wright R-1820s and hard points on the wings for weapons stores.

There are currently between 250 and 300 T-28s being flown today in several countries, including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United States. The FAA aircraft registry database currently lists 372 T-28s of all variants (A, B, C, etc).

EAA Warbirds in Review will honor the T-28 on Wednesday, July 29, in the morning (10 a.m.) session with Ed Gunter, Jack Drummond, and Bob Hoover.

T-28B Specifications
Engine: 1,425-hp Wright Cyclone
R-1820-86
Empty weight: 6,424 pounds
Maximum takeoff weight: 8,500 pounds
Wingspan: 40 feet, 1 inch
Length: 33 feet
Height: 12 feet
Maximum speed: 343 mph
Service ceiling: 35,500 feet
Range: 1,060 nm