North American T-28 Trojan

I have seen several familiar names on this site...Flew the
T-28 at Graham in 58-F and loved it. While flying one week-end at SQL 40 years later I noticed a Trojan in AF colors taking off....it was a Graham bird (same tail number
of plane I had flown several times in 1957) Got that old lump in the throat! Great memories

reply

My flight surgeon class (no. 123...graduating in the spring of 1970) was scheduled to train in the T-34, but due to heavy demand for Vietnam pilots, the squadrons were overbooked, so we were sent to Whiting for T-28 training. I was not thrilled, because I'd never flown anything before, but once I got over the shakes, I found that I could fly the thing, and after 12 instructional hops I was told by my off-wing instructor, "well, you won't kill yourself....safe to solo". What a rush that solo was, after waiting nearly four hours for an aircraft to become available! Never soloed a navy aircraft again, as that was our one authorized solo. Only ten of the class of 50 did solo, and eight of the ten already had their private licenses.

reply

Taking a ride in a T-28 is on my bucket list. I logged a little over 100 hours in one as a NavCad at Whiting Field in 1958. I'd be delighted to pay the expenses for a 1 /2 hour or so ride in one. I'm at jascain@aol.com and live in Los Angeles.

reply

NAVCAD Class 23-56 at Whitting Field was divided - half went into the SNJ (super navy jet) after soloing in the T-34, my half went into the T-28B. Next, gunnery at Barin Field in the Trojan, then CQ in the T-28C aboard the USS Antietam. Next, NAS Memphis and advanced instruments in the B model. I still get a thrill when I hear that Wright-Cyclone start up, idle then go to full power. I have about 800 hours in that wonderful machine and would own one if I could afford the oil bill.

reply

How to twist a T-28's tail

Navcad Class 20-55 reporting. We were the last cadets to fly the SNJ and one of the first to fly the T-28B. Remember shifting blower at @10,500'? You know, throttle back, shift, throttle up. Well, I forgot the first step in my excitement. What a hell of a thud!! but, it took it and we made it back OK.

reply

Indeed, this was one enjoyable aircraft. I was in class 36-63 and a "plowed back" after receiving my wings. I loved the maintenance check hops where I could experiment with the aircraft (ie wobbling and stair-stepping up to fl 310) or demo-ing a stall at just under 50 kts or buzzing a farmer after executing an engine out gliding procedure to a field. Ah yes, what wonderful times!

reply

I flew both the B and C models during my flight training with VT-3 between December 1973 and August 1974. Wonderful airplane to fly, I remember it fondly. Loved doing aerobatics especially spins in it. Wow that first spin in the 28 after having flown the T-34B was a real eye opener.

reply

I was a NAVCAD in Class 23-63, and the T-28 was by far my all-time favorite trainer. I went on to fly H-2 Seasprites and H-3 Seakings in HU-1 /HC-1, and finished in HS-84 at North Island. My three WESTPAC cruises were aboard the Ticonderoga, the Enterprise, and the Midway.

reply

170 hrs T28 time. 8 paddles traps 31 Oct 1957, 8 traps "mirror optical landing system" Antietam 12 Nov. I volunteered for the test after paddles qualification. The mirror was just that - a mirror mounted in a frame and chained to the right side of the angled deck. Much easier than the paddles approaches.

reply

I agree with most of the rave comments about the Navy
T-28B /C. After flight training I was a "plow back" instructor to South Whiting as a Red Knight in VT_3. After retireing from an airline career I couldn't afford my own T-28 so I built an RV-8A. A fun airplane and I fly a bit of formation with other RVs, but not a Trojan.

reply

Morning all... I am proud to fly a T-28B, BuNo 138265 now. Have owned and flown it since 2003. Great bird and I always enjoy having ex T28 pilots come up and start talking with us about the aircraft and this specific bird. Stop by and see us, normally at Oshkosh, Sun and Fun, and various shows in between!

reply

Class 7-57 Where are you? From T-34s to the T-28, an almost fighter. North and south Whiting field-Radio range instruments??? a long time ago 1957-8, thense to Barron(sp)Field and FCLP and gunnery. If one of thr 50s failed, the plane would turn sideways. Made it harder to qualify, but we did. Lots of FCLPs but no boat! Off to Chase Field and F-9s. More fun!!!

reply

WAS NOT A PILOT BUT WAS IN BTG-5 BARIN FIELD FOLEY ALA.
FLEW REAR SEAT SOME IN A T-28 MADE A FEW REAR SEAT CARIER
LANDINGS.WAS IN THE NAVY GOOD DUTY STATION.THE T-28 WAS A
JOY TO FLY IN.

reply

I first flew the T-28 for night flying and instrument training at Saufley Field, Fla. in 1956. After many hours in the SNJ this was a 'cadillac' to fly. Loved the airplane. I was plowed back after flight training to instruct in the T-28 at North Whiting Field, Fla. Had many wonderful experiences with this aircraft. We instructors would see how many hours a month we could fly in the T-28, most of us amassed 100+ hours a month. I knew this aircraft better than my car. Loved to get the WX hops..because I knew no one else was airborne. I would put on low level airshows for the crash crews at outlying fields, then land and have a cup of coffee with them. Great times. Had much rather fly than eat back in those days. I have approx. 1200 flight hours in this wonderful bird.

reply

Flew at VT-6 in the 70s and then came back to Pensacolaat NAS Sherman as functional test pilot for the T-28s that came out of NARF in the 80s. We also put systems in the bird and did evaluations of the systems for NARF. Of all the planes I flew, the T-28 was the most fun and most dependable. I recall one went down at Brewton Field on a training hop and everyone walked away after it plowed thru the trees. Great plane!

reply

I saw the name "John L. Krill" above and immediately took my Graham AB 58-F book off the shelf. There was Lt. Krill along with the other military check pilots (Patee, Seaton, and Williams). From my perspective as an Aviation Cadet, they were all imposing and fearsome men. Damn, those were great days! My call sign was "Gator 23". Many years later, when flying A-37Bs, it was "Vader 23". How 'bout that?

reply

Upon graduation from the USAF Academy in 1965 I was assigned to pilot training at Randolph AFB, TX where I completed basic flight training in the T-28. Subsequently, I completed Helicopter training at Shepard AFB, TX prior to being assigned to Vietnam as a Rescue Helicopter pilot. The T-28 was an amazing aircraft to be trained in as a new pilot. The lessons learned in the T-28 have served me well in my 13,000 hour of flying since those exciting years.

reply

Morey Butler, my grandfather was a camera operator for the Airborne Board at Fort Bragg and flew in the T-28's and T-34's in the 80's. I am looking for information as I am doing research since my grandfather passed away. I have his flight suit and a TON of pictures he took of the loads. Can you help me out?

reply

I flew the T-28B /C going through flight training in 1963-64 at NAAS Whiting Field, FL, made my first carrier arrested landing in a T-28C on USS Lexington (CVT-16) in June, and later flew it again while serving as an Instrument Training Instructor in both the TA-4F and T-28 at VA-45, NAS Cecil Field, FL 1967-70. I always found the aircraft dependable and a pleasure to fly.

reply

I flew the T-28 as an instructor in VT-3 at South Whiting Field, 1960-62. Taught formation and gunnery as well as flying night chase on students doing their night flying. Two years and 2500+ hours. Yes, we were operating at a high tempo. The navy was increasing the number of pilots and the demands for output were relentless.

Instructing can become very frustrating. After a year you begin to recognize that all the students make the same mistakes, and that you can almost predict what mistakes will be made and when. That can lead to being cynical and impatient. I had to fight that tendency my last year and was not as good an instructor as I was the first year.

All my fellow instructors were really great "sticks" and it was a pleasure to work with them. We flew so much that starting a T-28 was more familiar to us than starting our cars. Two or three 2-2.5 hour hops a day, six days a week really hone your skills. Many great memories of those days.

reply