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SNJ Texan, US Navy
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Photography by Action Asia Photo |
Built as a private venture by North American Aircraft in 1935, the SNJ became the Navy's advanced trainer from 1936 through the forties and its primary trainer during much of the fifties. Of the approximately 16,000 models produced, the majority saw service with the Army Air Forces and numerous foreign countries while the Navy accounted for 4,800 of them. The SNJ is considered to be the most successful training aircraft ever produced. Ordered by the Navy in 1936, the SNJ represented a transition from the slower, less complex trainers to a high performance type that would prepare student aviators for the more advanced fleet aircraft. The Texan was powered by a 550 horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine that enabled it to cruise at a speed of 130-150 knots. These performance figures were much greater than that of the N2S Kaydet, the N3N Yellow Peril, and the SNV Valiant. It was not only heavier and larger than these predecessors, but also incorporated retractable landing gear. Later versions were also fitted with arresting hooks as well as more powerful electrical systems to accommodate instrument training requirements. In addition to its training role, the SNJs were used as command and staff transports. An SNJ played an important role in the development of the modern aircraft carrier when it was utilized in 1953 to test day/night touch-and-go and arrested landings and takeoffs in winds of varying force and direction on the Navy's first angled deck aircraft carrier, the USS Antietam. Army versions were used in Korea as armed spotters for U.N. ground troops, and many a Hollywood war movie used SNJs to portray the Japanese Zero which had a similar silhouette. Crew:
Pilot and student
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