Featured Performer

 

With a lot of history and noise, show spectators will witness spectacular formation flying at its best by the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team.  Flying North American AT-6G Texan warbird aircraft with no less than 600 horsepower and a big smoke system (times four) spectators will not only hear but vividly see these 60+ year old amazing Army Air Corps aircraft. The team will thrill crowds with the valiant Texan’s performing a variety of precision aerobatic maneuvers including the bomb burst, avalanche and breath taking “Switch Blade”. The team comes to Dayton from Birmingham, Alabama.  Flying lead is Bryan Regan, Right-Wing Steve Gustafson, Left-Wing Mark Henley and Slot Gene McNeely.

The North American AT-6 Texan/Harvard/SNJ and NA-16, first appeared in 1938 and was similar to and eventually replaced the BC-1A basic-combat trainer when the BC classification was abandoned. Production aircraft for the US services and for export to many countries were built under a wide range of NA, NJ, BC and BT designations. They were used as combat trainers, basic trainers, general-purpose aircraft and bombers.

In post war USAF service, Texans were redesignated under the T-6 classification, new versions being produced by modification. Today Texans/Harvards are still flown as basic trainers and light attack aircraft by the airforces of 22 countries, although no longer in the USA.