Spirit of Flight 6

[C]

The last one is the only one that even resembles the one I saw

You're only meant to be looking at the rudder shape of early Harvards...

I've just noticed the first one's a Yale too... So's the second, so most of the dimensions would be smaller.

EVEN BETTER! Here's 3(!) of them!



...and a line drawing!

[Rifleman]

Ready for this Charlie ?.....

What I did here was take the profile view which was originally posted, then rotated the image to get the datum to match the 3-view which you supplied. I measured the length of the 3-view and re-sized the photo to match the same datum length......I then overlayed the two images and changed opacity so I could see each image, but it was a little hard to see each one in its own right so I just enlarged the canvas size so I could drop the photo under the 3-view and you can see what I can see quite easily......

From the shadow, there is a huge planview of the wing layout and taking the sun angle into account, I think that the photo shows a swept wing with a straight trailing edge (in the manner of the Harvard in your defense) and the 3-view shows a tapered wing with positive sweep on the lead edge and a trailing edge which is swept forward.....the fin and rudder, although similar, show a major difference in the trailing edge where on the 3-view, there is a vertical line and on the photo the curve continues down and under to join the fuselage .....elevator hinge line is questionable at best between both images..........rear sides of glasshouse could be made to look different, so this isn't really conclusive at all........Cowl style has different designer from the three plane formation you showed, to be generous........

I'm still not completely satisfied that this is an NA-50A and almost totally sure it's a modified something or other  ???.....  ::)

I hope we can get to the bottom of this one.... its got me so far........

[Jakemaster]

I still think its definately NOT a P-63!  First of all, look at the canopy.  ITs nothing like the 63s.  Neither is the tail or even the nose for that matter!  Ill go try and see if I can find anything more about it

[C]

[quote]I still think its definately NOT a P-63!

[Hagar]

I've been watching this with interest. I'm inclined to think that Charlie is correct but it's quite possible this is a modified AT-6 rather than an original example. The good old Harvard/Texan has been modified to resemble countless warbirds over the years.

[Hagar]

PS, look, it's a P-64... (original captions below photos)

I think you proved your point. Well done.

[C]

I've been watching this with interest. I'm inclined to think that Charlie is correct but it's quite possible this is a modified AT-6 rather than an original example.

Indeed, I was inclined to think the same thing, in a similar fashion to the Navy one posted on Page 1. Those on the Flypast forum tend to agree it could be a relatively easy conversion (remove rear canopy - new rear decking, and as you say Doug, rudders are a doddle to change)...

PS. For some reason the Lone Star Museum seems very tight-lipped about its exhibits. I can't find any reports of Spirit of Flight 2006 either.

As I've been finding out!

[Felix/FFDS]

The North American NA-50 (no P-xx designation)  is shown as having a similar tail to the Harvard I, and the wing planform (swept forward edge, straight trailing).  Additional modifications resulted in the NA-68 (designated P-64).  This one had a large engine, the familiar later triangular tail....

I have no doubt that many warbirds now flying are "bitzers" (a bit from here, a bit from there), but the one in the photo appears to be represent the NA-50, modified to be a two seater.

[C]

I have no doubt that many warbirds now flying are "bitzers" (a bit from here, a bit from there), but the one in the photo appears to be represent the NA-50, modified to be a two seater.

I expect this (as with at least one other airworthy NA-50/P-64) may well have started life as a T-6...

It's a shame it's been so hard to trace - it would be good to get a definitive history of this particular airframe, to find its origins...

[Rifleman]

One last look at three of them.......From Aerofiles......I know nobody is lying here, I'm just trying to get a positive ID and agree with Charlies last statement.....it would be nice to know the real history of this particular A/C

[C]

Right...

The answer. There is one surviving genuine P-64, as seen in the EAA collection. There are other surviving NA-50s around the world.

This one, along with the one on the previous page, those at the top of the page and the one dressed as a Hellcat in France are conversions from T-6 variants.

This particular example apparently started life as an SNJ for the USN, but has been rebuilt as a representative P-64 since...