Rawdon T-1

My father, Charles Porter & a friend Hale Hayle, purchased #3 equipped as a spray plane. It was gray & had fabric covered wings. The spray booms were inside the wing & the nozzles stuck out through metal rings. Removing the nozzles, plugging them, and putting a small metal cover over the hole allowed the aircraft to quickly be returned to a tandem trainer. Remove the tank from the back, install the seat & control stick. Fully aerobatic. That would have been around 1950. I would have been 9 & remember visiting the plant as the plane was being built. It is my understanding the last owner donated it to the Kansas Aviation Museum.

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Interested in a Rawdon locally, curious which O320 engines were original to the aircraft?

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I learned to fly at rowden field in 1960. Rip Gooch was my flight instructor. I flew a Luscombe 8-A. I met Gene Roden at the gas pump. We admired a beautiful Curtis Robin. He then asked me to visit him and his brothers business, they were building T-1. I worked nearby at Beachcraft. I’m a family member of the Doolittle Raiders, John Hilger, Commanding Officer. If you have any questions you may contact me at:
918-453-3711 Home
918-557-6472 cell

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I grew up spending my weekends at Rawden Field in the late 60’s, early 70’s. My dad and his business partners had a couple planes there including an Aeronca Champ, which was the first plane I handle the stick in. I saw the T-1s in the big hanger, but never got to see one in flight.

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My Dad, also Henry Dittmer, flew for Herb off and on. As a teenager a good friend of my Dad, Ira Rucker, had restored a Stearman and wanted aerial photos, which my Dad also did for folks. I got a ride in the Stearman and took aerial photos of my Dad in the T-1. One of my favorite pictures.

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Marcus Becker,

Are you still interested in selling your Rawdon? If so please email me at reach767@gmail.com or call 954-609-8727.

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I have had the privilege of flying 3 of these fine birds. All belonging to Aerial Sign Co down in Hollywood Fl. From what I understand 1 of them crashed and burned a few year back. What a great airplane. I have flown N6810D and I forget the other two tail numbers. 2 of them were old crop dusters set up to tow and sky write and the other was a two place. I am hoping within the next few days I will be the proud owner of SN2 that is currently in boxes. Looking forward to restoring this fine bird

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In 1945, at age 16, I learned to fly at Rawdon Brothers. My instructor was Jim Greer. I clearly remember a T-1 pulling up along side our J-3 Cub and the Cub and the T-1 did several loops together before the T-1 remained inverted and we pulled away. I was thrilled, of course! One of the Rawdon brothers was flying the T-1. The two Rawdon brothers were true gentlemen. My father had known "Dutch" earlier.

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hola,acabo de adquirir un Rawdon T-1 SD que mi padre restauro hace 35 años, nuevamente esta accidentado,estoy en busca de los planos y manuales, si alguien sabe donde se pueden comprar le voy a estar muy agradecido,. Gustavo Iglina ,Buenos Aires Argentina. GRACIAS!!

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Hello, I have rawdon n6808d that was my fathers. It is a project but has had alot of work done to it. My dad has passed away and we will probably be selling it. If anyone has an interest please let me know. Thank you, Marcus Becker.

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In the late 50s I helped a sprayer in Junction City Ks
load his Rawdon for spray duty. That aircraft is still
active and owned by I believe the third owner out of
Junction City, 3JC. I would like to buy it but it appears
not to be for sale.

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My Dad, John (Wally) Laible used to build the T-1 as a part time evening and weekend job during the late 50's, early 60's at the Rawdon airport in Wichita, Kansas. I had seen Herb many times working in his office.

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My father, Jack Chastain, was indeed test pilot and demo pilot for Rawdon Bros. Act. He was not killed in Panama as suggested in the comments above, but died in 1978 shortly afrer we completed the restoration of T-1 S /N6, N5160. N5160 is still in my family, currently flying. The T-1 has been a great fun flying airplane, receiving many awards at fly-ins in the central stares, including Reserve Grand Champion twice at Oshkosh

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In 1979 I flew N6810D twice when it was at Oak Grove Airport. Pappy Spinks caught me the second time and that was it. I remember it was LOUD.

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In 1961-62 I had the opportunity to fly the Rawdon T-1 as a crop duster over cotton fields of San Miguel, El Salvador, Central America. It was a big pleasure flying this wonderfull airplane.

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The only T-1 I ever saw was in the Rawdon hanger in Wichita. I believe in 1952 or 53. Khorton refer to the
test pilot Janck Chastain. I believe he was later killed
in Panama when an airliner landed on him as he was taking off in a 310.

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I am the proud owner of N2709D, serial # T-1-29S. It is stored in a barn at this time with hopes of restoring it in the near future. Location North Central Florida

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Jack Taylor, of SRQ /Sarasota, FL had a polished Shinn in the mid-60s. I only lucky enough to fly it once, while working at J&J Aircraft in Sarasota, but loved it's tri-gear and very responsive rod controls. One finger on the little ball on the top of the stick was all it took. It was, however very hot with at clear cnopy in the Florida sun. Where can we get more info on the Shinn?

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Rawdons were built in Wichita, Ks. Gene Rawdon ran a small airport across the street from Beechcraft (His brother Herb designed the Beech Model 18).

They had a pilot, Jack Chastain who did aerobatics in the T-1. putting on quite a show.

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In the 1960's, there was a Rawdon in Buckeye, Arizona. It belonged to a crop dusting service, (Paul Pierce, I think)and had been converted to a sprayer. I would have loved to have that airplane. It is the only one that I have ever seen. I lived in Gila Bend at the time and used to fly into the airport at Buckeye quite often. It looks like a Shinn or Varga with the third wheel on the proper end.

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