History

The North American T-28 was a basic trainer that was subsequently ordered in two advanced versions, the T-28B and T-28C, by the U.S. Navy, with the latter designed for carrier operation. It was the first trainer designed to transition pilots to jet aircraft.

Originally, it was powered by a Wright R-1300 engine with a rating of 800 horsepower, a top speed of 285 mph and a service ceiling of 29,000 feet. New versions carried a Wright R-1820 engine with a rating of 1,425 horsepower, a top speed of more than 345 mph and a 37,000 foot ceiling.

The T-28B and T-28C could handle accessory kits providing for bombs, rockets, and machine guns.

The Navy ordered 792 T-28s, 299 of which included an arrester hook for carrier landings. Some versions of the T-28 were adapted to more extensive military operations by foreign countries.