Hobby Master 1/72 - Harvard SNJ-3 'Naval Air Station'

Hobby Master 1/72 - Harvard SNJ-3 'Naval Air Station'

The T-6 trainer was one of the most important aircrafts of all time. It was used by 34 countries with a total of 17,096 built. An estimation of over 100,000 U.S. military pilots flew these aircraft.

It was in late 1930's North American Aviation began to deliver the T-6 Texan for the USAAF and the SNJ version for the USN. The Texan got its name because of production in the Dallas, Texas plant of North America. It was known as the "Harvard" for those built in Canada.

Though basically built as a trainer aircraft, the T-6 was used in multiple roles include interceptor, fighter bomber and counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft during the conflicts of WWII, the Korea War and the Vietnam War. It was also extensively used by the civilians for different purposes.Despite all these, T-6 was still best known as a universal trainer - the Pilot Maker.

The Aircraft

Training Squadron 3 Detachment 8-B (VN3D8-b) was created in 1943 under the command of Lt. Thomas Bradbury in Pensacola, Florida. This was to cope with the shortage of trained pilots during the peak of WWII and the squadron used the SNJs for training.

VN-3 was decommissioned in 1947 and it took its place in annals of Naval History as a squadron which took great pride in preparing the cream of America's youth for the defense of this nation and its ideals.

Specifications :

Manufacturer:	North American Aviation
Purpose:	Originally an Advanced Trainer
Powerplant:	600 HP Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN-1
Length:	29 ft. 6 in.
Wing Span:	42 ft.
Height:	11 ft. 9 in.
Maximum Speed:	205 MPH
Cruising Speed:	170 MPH
Service Ceiling:	21,500 ft.
Range:	750 mi.
Weight:	Empty 4,158 lb. / Maximum 5,300 lb.
Average Fuel Consumption:	30 GPH
Armament:	Allowance made for 1 x 0.30 in. (7.62 mm) Machine Gun