Bob Ford's North American AT-6A Texan "Paradise"

Bob Ford is the owner and operator of this North American AT-6A Texan "Paradise" which is available for airshows, flybys and film. Bob has been performing warbird aerobatics to big band music at airshows since 1995. "Paradise" is painted in the colors of the 78th Fighter Group, Duxford, England.

The T-6 Texan, built by North American Aviation, was designed as an advanced trainer. It was intended to be a transition between basic trainers and first-line tactical aircraft. The T-6 was used to train most of the Allied pilots that flew in World War II. It is known by a variety of different names, depending on who operated it. The USAAC called it the 'AT-6', The USN called it the 'SNJ', and the RAF called it the 'Harvard'.

During the Korean War and to a lesser extent, the Vietnam war, T-6's were pressed into service as forward air control aircraft. These aircraft were designated T-6 "Mosquito"s. The RAF used the Harvard in Kenya against the Mau Mau in the 1950s where they operated with 20 lb bombs and machine guns against the gangs. Some operations took place at altitudes around 20,000 ft.

Since the Second World War, the T-6 has been a regular participant at air shows, and was used in many movies. For example, in Tora! Tora! Tora! and The Final Countdown, converted single-seat T-6s painted in Japanese markings represent Mitsubishi Zeroes. The New Zealand Warbirds "Roaring 40s" aerobatic team use ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force Harvards.

A total of 20,110 Harvards/T-6s/SNJs were built between 1938 and 1954, 3,370 of them in Canada.

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