Quick Facts

North American T-28 Trojan

A Versatile Trainer and Attack Aircraft

Era: Jet Age

Part of the Air Zoo Collection
Location: Flight Innovation Center – East Wing


The North American T-28 Trojan was the last of a line of trainers produced by North American Aviation. It was also the last radial-engine trainer to be used by both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy.
The Trojan was produced in 1948 to replace the aging T-6 Texan as a primary and basic trainer, but was converted into a ground attack and anti-guerilla aircraft. As with its predecessor the T-28 earned its place in aviation history as one of the best and most versatile trainers ever developed. It has been used in numerous countries. Today, it is a favorite aircraft of private warbird owners.
The French acquired 245 Trojans in 1960 and put them into service in Algeria under the name of Fennec. A later version (T-28D) was used in the Vietnam War by both U.S. Forces and the South Vietnam Air Forces.
The U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy models differed considerably. The Air Force’s model used had a Wright R-1300 seven-cylinder engine producing 800hp. The Navy model (T-28B) had slight structural modifications and a Wright R-1820 engine driving a three-bladed propeller. The increase in performance was considerable. The later Navy model (T-28C), was strengthened and made longer to accommodate landing hooks.

The Air Zoo’s T-28

This particular Trojan was specifically used by Air National Guard and Air Reserves to maintain fighter flight proficiency. The Air Zoo's Trojan was a Grand Champion Warbird at Oshkosh in 1974. While this aircraft was manufactured as an "A" model, it was re-engine to "B" model standards. The Blue Angel paint scheme on the Air Zoo's Trojan is a facsimile of the scheme used by the aerobatic team. However, the Blue Angels never gave public performances in T-28s. The only prop aircraft they used were the F6F Hellcat and the F8F Bearcat.

Did You Know?

  • There is one known air-to-air combat victory for the T-28-a Cambodian pilot shot down a USAF O-1E Bird Dog that allegedly strayed over the Cambodian border.
  • To become carrier qualified, a naval aviator student needed to compete four arrested landings, two touch-and-go carrier landings and four catapult launches.
  • The "whiskers" on the T-28 are static discharge wicks located on the ends of the wings and stabilizer surfaces. These allow any static electricity that has built up on the aircraft to dissipate into the air so there is less radio transmission interference.