AT-6 wing hardpoints?

[Rob Mears]

Can anyone identify what the hardpoints onthis AT-6 wing were used for? This plane was reported to be a Canadian surplus aircraft, and was 100% stock at the time.

[AirJimL2]

What kind of RCAF Harvard? Some Harvard IIs carried rockets when used by the RCAF Auxiliary Squadrons.

Jim

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/grfx/equip_gallery/historic_gallery/wallpaper/harvard2.jpg

[Chuck Gardner]

That picture is too cool! How fun would that be shooting rockets from a T-6!
We were wanting to have that as an option on our flights at Warbird Adventures and go shoot at stuff on the ground.

[Tulio]

Several air forces employed the Texan and variants, as a kind of "fighter" and gun pods were hung from the hardpoints (.30 cal if I recall correctly).

There was even one field converstion that I recall (Honduras) where they installed a bomb-bay on the Texan.

The British employed the AT-6s against the Mau-Mau in Kenya back in the 1950s; the U.S. employed the AT-6 as a FAC in Korea, and several Latin American, African and even Asian countries employed it in an armed capacity (this, in addition to the wing-mounted machine gun).

Saludos,


Tulio

[HELLDIVERS]

THE SPANISH T-6S HAD BOMB AND ROCKET HARD POINTS PLUS A WING MOUNTED 30 CAL.THE WING IS MUCH HEAVIER THAN A STOCK T-6 WING THE HARD POINTS IN THE PHOTO ARE SPACE ABOUT PERFECT FOR ROCKETS THANKS MIKE

[pilot06]

Rob,

I don't see the image. Can you email it to me?

Thanks,
Patrick

[ThinkingManNeil]

I think the French also used rocket and gun-pod armed T-6's in Algeria.

N.

[bdk]

I've got a Harvard wing that has a panel with electrical connections for rockets. It also has some bolt holes on the bottom I think, but doesn't have the sheet metal brackets shown in your photo.

Paste the link below into your browser and you should be able to view the picture:

http://image07.webshots.com/7/2/29/40/8 ... kRg_ph.jpg

P.S. You can see the outline from what looks to be a .30 cal machine gun pod on the underside (similar to this one: http://cranetechnologiesinc.com/USGI_30Cal_GunPod.htm)

Last edited by bdk on Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Rob Mears]

Here's the fuselage for the same plane. I was hoping someone more familiar with T-6's and their serial numbers could help me decipher the number on tail, and possibly find this one's current owner.

[Tulio]

Helldivers is right!

I forgot that the Spanish used the armed T-6s against the Polisario in the Sahara Español, and this also jogged my memory; the Portuguese employed armed T-6s against the guerrillas in Mozambique and Angola; armed T-6s were also employed by Mose Tshombe's forces, as well as during part of the Biafra conflict.

Rob: I cannot see your photos.

Saludos,


Tulio

[TEXANTOMCAT]

Rob I cant see the photos either and I own an ex-Algerian T-6 - had a full set of hardpoints and gun racks - maybe the hardpoints are for an RAF Light Series Carrier bomb rack?

Email me the photos to BBrown@sherwooddunham.com and will see if i can help....

All the best

TT

[AirJimL2]

Rob,

That is not a stock RCAF Harvard II or IV. The rear canopy section is not from a Harvard II or IV. (The RCAF Harvards had a longer rear canopy section.) The canopy looks like a T-6G canopy to me.

You have any more pictures?

Jim

[Tim Savage]

I am almost positive that the T-6 in the photos is a former French T-6G from the 51-14xxx block. I have two of them in my hangar right now, one under restoration and one in for an annual. One of the give aways is the scoop on the accessory cowl for the Jasco alternator, as the French airplanes had the modification.

An interesting side note, when we were taking apart one of the T-6Gs for restoration, as we were pulling the feet trays out we noticed that the rear one had a retainer about the size of an M-1 carbine stock attached to it. This would have allowed the pilot to set his carbine in the holder right behind his seat.

Anyway, for those that are not aware, I purchased a T-6 restoration facility first of the year. www.midwesttexans.com

[TEXANTOMCAT]

tis a small world.....mine is 51-14700 and has documented (and photographed) combat history in Algeria before 'playing' a crashed Zero in Empire of the Sun....

TT

[pilot06]

Tim,

Do you have pics of the two aircraft before restoration? I would very interested in seeing them.

Thanks,
Patrick