Looking for some N.A.T-6 in demonstration teams.

[Fernando Estanislau]

Once I have started a research concerning the N.A.T-6 in Brazil, and also went looking for demonstration teams all around the world which used it. I have collected many info and images, but some of them are really hard to find.

I still need some of images and information, so I would be very glad if someone could help in my search.

N87613 (cn 65-2009) - appears as a Skytyper machine in odd colors at www.airliners.net, can anyone confirm its fate or have an actual photo?
http://www.airliners.net/photo/The-Skyt ... 0563713/L/

Any info on the color of this bird would be very nice too…
…

ZS-WLR 52-8527 (c/n CCF4-448)
ZS-WLS 52-8530 (c/n CCF4-451)
ZS-WLT 42-84454 (c/n 88-16235)
These machines appear listed as part of the South African Airways Historic Flight, but so far no images of them were found.
…

The aircraft pictured at this site:
http://www.thescale.info/news/publish/H ... NZAF.shtml
Can anyone confirm if they were part of a demonstration team or are they in trainer duties only?
…

Serial #: RCAF 20372
This Harvard might have belonged to the "Goldilocks" Canadian team as #7. I would like to find its data, and also confirm if the team flew a formation of seven aircraft.
…

N7421C (cn 88-17380) - (42-85599) to RCAF on May 1951
N3680F (cn 42-84793)
N52006 (cn 88-15194) - (52006) previously registered as N7995C
These three aircraft above are/were apparently part of the Condor Squadron based at Van Nuys airport, CA, but so far I wasn't able to find any photography of them.
…

Can someone tell me why the Aeroshell team apparently doesn't have a #4 aircraft? I have found data and photos of them numbered from #1 to #5, but never found the #4 machine:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aeroshel ... 1091170/L/
…

Thanks a lot for any help on any of the topics above. Best wishes,

Fernando Estanislau.

[FG1D Pilot]

Can someone tell me why the Aeroshell team apparently doesn't have a #4 aircraft? I have found data and photos of them numbered from #1 to #5, but never found the #4 machine:

.

Gene, the slot man, doesn't like the number 4

[Steve T]

Oh man, where's MacHarvard!

Demo teams on the NA-16 series have been many, both military and civil. We have a fine one in Canada currently, the CHAA team out of Tillsonburg, Ontario, with up to five aircraft; hunt round on here and you'll find some of Airic's photos of them (or check out Airic's website).

Longer ago there were not only the Goldilocks out of RCAF Moose Jaw (that name being a sendup of the then-current Golden Hawks) but also the Easy Aces from RCAF Centralia a few years before.

Stateside in recent years there have been the Skytypers, the North American Team, the Six Of Diamonds, and of course the Aeroshell team. And I suppose one could view the CAF's Tora routine as a "T-6 team demo" also, since all of each Zero and three quarters of each "Kate" is a Harvard 4...

Two teams further afield (well, from here) would be the RNZAF's Red Chequers, and the South African civilian team that does that breathtaking "waterski pass" with extended wheels kicking up roostertails offshore. Pix of the latter should also be somewhere here on WIX...

S.

[Roger Cain]

Fernando,

Here are a couple pictures of the Condor Squadron aircraft, which were marked in American and German markings
I have photographed eight of them in U.S. markings such as this: http://www.sfahistory.org/merN2863G.jpg
http://www.sfahistory.org/merNAT86WWt6.jpg
and seven in German markings such as this:
http://www.sfahistory.org/merT6condors.jpg

the Skytypers had an accident in 2007 and it can be viewed at:
http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_i ... 1400&key=1
In recent years they had at least eight planes of which I've seen seven. Most of them were SNJ-2's like in your picture.

Sorry, I don't have time to scan in the pictures, but I'm sure there will be more posted by other WIX members on this board.

[Tulio]

The Paraguayan Air Force, operated an aerobatic demostration team, called the "ARA SUNU"

I recall as a child, seeing formation flights by T-6s from the Guatemalan Air Force, but I do not know if they had an organized team with them.

Saludos,


Tulio

[Fernando Estanislau]

Thank you all for the answers, gentlemen. They are much appreciated.

FG1D: I understand the absence of the #4 now. Hope it brings the luck he wanted. Could you please tell me what does a "slot man" mean?

Steve T: thank to you I could find the Canadian Harvards group, but found six aircraft as listed below. Do you know if it is correct?

C-FHWX - "46 AJ583" (cn 76-3553)
C-FMKA - "53 3222" (cn 75-3496)
C-FRWN - "54 3830 (cn 81-4097)
C-FWPK - "20242 RCAF-242" (cn CCF4-33)
C-FNDB - "3039 NAVY-039" (cn 07-6)
C-FMTX - "3191" (cn 75-3465)

I am still looking for the other groups you mentioned.

Roger Cain, I hope one day you have time to scan at least the three images of the aircraft I mentioned and send me a copy. Thank you in advance.

Tulio, the Paraguaian Air Force Ara-Sunu were two aircraft from Brazil, fortunately I will find the original cn for them.

Best regards. I will have more questions in the future, if you don't mind.

[Matt Gunsch]

I was the head crew chief for the Cactus Squadron based in Phx, Az, Lead was Carl Schmieder, N2757G, other pilots were Bob Mitchell in his Harvard IV, Rick Hosking, SNJ-3 N5287N, Chuck Biveniour, T-6G, Vern Raburn, SNJ-5, Bruce Redding, T-6A Race 88, Mark Berrent, SNJ-3, Jay Brentlinger, SNJ-5,

[Tulio]

Fernando:

The data following, was researched and provided to me by Lic. Antonio Sapienza-Fracchia, a Paraguayan aviation historian.

I apologize because I cannot format the data to look right for this posting.

So, there were more than just 2 aircraft with Ara Sunu:

FAP Serial Model c/n USAAF/U.S. Navy Serial FAB Serial SAAF Serial Color Acquisition WFU Remarks Fate


FAP0119 AT-6D S2-04 1389 Ara-Sunú 1974 1980 Built in Brazil.Escuadrilla Acrobática Ara-Sunú N°1 Sold in 1991 as N3171R
FAP0119 T-6G SA-055 7700 SA 1980 In service Painted in Ara-Sunú colors, serial 1. Still in flying conditions in the GAI, Ñu-Guazú AFB, 2000
FAP0121 AT-6D S1-01 1382 Ara-Sunú 1974 1980 Built in Brazil.Escuadrilla Acrobática Ara-Sunú N°2 Scrapped
FAP0123 AT-6D-1-NT 88-14568 42-44480 89/1311 Ara-Sunú 1974 1980 Conv. to T-6G/Esc. Acrob. Ara-Sunú N° 3 Sold in 1991 as N3172H
FAP0123 T-6G SA-053 7706 SA 1980 In service Painted in Ara-Sunú colors, serial 2. Still in flying conditions in the GAI, Ñu-Guazú AFB, 2000
FAP0125 AT-6C-15-NT 88-14276 42-44373 78/1300 Ara-Sunú 1974 1982 Conv. to T-6G/Esc. Acrob. Ara-Sunú N° 4 Scrapped
FAP0127 AT-6C-15-NT 88-14274 42-44371 76/1298 Ara-Sunú 1974 1980 Conv. to T-6G/Esc. Acrob. Ara-Sunú N° 5 Re-serialled as FAP0107 in 1980
FAP0129 SNJ-4 88-9747 Bu 10063 1398 Ara-Sunú 1974 1980 Conv. to T-6G/Esc. Acrob. Ara-Sunú N° 6 Ñu-Guazú AFB Gate Guardian


*******************

Lastly, and abusing the WIX hospitality, may I invite you to visit us at www.laahs.com?


Saludos


Tulio

[Old SAR pilot]

A pic of the South African team can be found at:

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... sc&start=0

and a (poor copy) of the video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waF-xwyEi1w

[Swiss Mustangs]

got a few earlier (1965) photos in red c/s found on the web of Skytypers:

N61563 #1
N60634 #2
N55729 #3
N60833 #4
N87613 #5













HTH
Martin

[retroaviation]

What's up with the goofy lookin' short canopy? I wonder why they took the time to convert it like that.

Gary

[K225]

In 1962 instructors at RCAF Stn. Moose Jaw formed a Harvard acrobatic team to perform during Air Force Day at that unit. The "Goldilocks" performed at other Air Force Days and air shows across the country. The team was disbanded in 1964 . The "crazy formation" displayed by this group was a sight to be long remembered by spectators and proved to be one of the highlights of the show.

[Roger Cain]

What's up with the goofy lookin' short canopy? I wonder why they took the time to convert it like that.

Gary

I photographed that same plane at the Freedom Flight festival that started in Long Beach, and it still had that canopy.

[Old SAR pilot]

Looks like the wingtip attachments on #s 3 and 5 were built to "frame" that short canopy. For some sort of aerobatic routine? Or that the original canopy was too long for whatever reason?

[Fernando Estanislau]

Matt Gunsch - thanks for the info you provide. Is it possible to obtain the info concerning the aircraft the other pilots flew? It would be nice if you could tell me when the Cactus Squadron was active. By the way, any chance of having a picture of the team?

Tulio - I am in contact with another researcher here in Brazil. As soon as I can get in touch I will see if his info matches yours. Thank you.

Old SAR pilot - this video is awesome, isn't it?

Swiss Mustangs - How can I thank you properly? Beautiful collection of images, I am so hapy in seeing them! The Skytypers were even more beautiful in the 60's
The red stripe on each wing tip went to few inches only, am I right? Did it point to the white stripe in the fuselage? What do you think?

K225 - It would be a good find any footage of the Goldlocks performing the formation in the photo, isn't it?


Thanks a lot for your answers.