North American T-28D Trojan
The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan was a military trainer used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s. Besides its use as a trainer, the T-28 was successfully employed as a counter-insurgency aircraft, primarily during the Vietnam War. T-28s were supplied to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) in support of ground operations, seeing extensive service in RVNAF hands, as well as the Secret War in Laos.
Aircraft Specifications
Manufacturer: North American Aircraft Co.
Engine: Curtis Wright R-1820-86B, Air Cooled Radial
Horsepower: 1,425 HP
Fuel Burn: 50 Gal./Hour
Range: 1,060 Miles
Top Speed: 346 MPH
Mission: Trainer- Land and Sea, Ground Attack, Target Tug
Armaments: 2- 50 Caliber machine guns, 1,800lbs bombs or various ordinance
N28XT Specific History
(BUN 138339) was flown 11,000 hours by the USN from 1955 through 1978. It served primarily through Pensacola and its outlying fields, but served two years at Marine Corps Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, during which time it logged a documented 150 touch and go landings on carriers! It had eleven engine changes during that time.
(BUN 138339) was then stored at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson from 1978-1989. Held in reserve for the United States Naval Museum at Pensacola. It was released in a batch of five aircraft in trade for a wing in a PBY Catalina Project. It changed hands three times on paper before Ralph Glasser acquired it at the boneyard in August 1989. Initial airworthiness certification was performed by John Gasho, Western International Aviation in Tucson, October 1989.
Engine (carburetor) failure December 1, 1990. Complete ground-up restoration completed by Bon Grant of Great American Aircraft, Torrance CA, October 1991.
Aircraft was flown by Ralph Glasser until it was acquired by the Aviation Heritage Foundation in 2021.