SNJ-5 Texan | Behind the Wings

SNJ-5 Texan | Behind the Wings
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The SNJ-5 Texan (Navy), otherwise known as the T-6 Texan (US Army Air Forces), is one of the most important aircraft trainers of all time. Used primarily to train pilots graduating to the P-51, P-47, P-38 and more during WWII, the SNJ-5 offered pilots immersive training opportunities during its operational days.
In this episode, join host Matthew Burchette as he hooks up with aerobatic pilot Don Nelson, walks around a beautiful SNJ-5 and even completes his first aerobatic roll and loop over Colorado's eastern plains.
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum:
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Hampden Press:
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Colorado Division of Aeronautics:
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Host:
Matthew Burchette
Creator, Producer:
Ben Theune
Camera, Editor:
Scott Hennelly, Shahn Sederberg
Music:
Joakim Karud - / joakimkarud

[@piketubeman]

What a Majestic looking man. When you opened that canopy, it was just instant "Supermodel".

[@damianjohnny6475]

instablaster

[@smc9108]

My grandpa co-piloted these as target pullers in Pensacola during WWII. He said his craft would drag a target, made of canvas or something similar, and trainees would have their rounds marked with different colors of dye so when the hop was over they could check out the target and review how they did. Wish he was still around to see this episode, he would've loved it!! He passed away in '16 aged 94. Thank you for a great episode I love this channel!!

[@ParkerUAS]

Yup. My uncle did the same mission role, but during Vietnam and in the Navy's S-1 Tracker (predecessor to the C-2 Greyhound). One of the missions was using radar aimed guns on the fighters of the day. After one night mission they go to reel in the target banner and only 40 feet of cable comes in. Gave them a little picker factor knowing 20mm rounds were getting that close.

[@smc9108]

@@ParkerUAS pucker factor is right, all that live ammo trailing by mere yards! I asked him if there were any mishaps, he said he never witnessed any while airborne but he was also auxiliary fire brigade (I'm sure I just slaughtered the title) and had to respond to accidents on and around the airstrip, didn't go into details and I didn't pry but he said that was the worst part. He was an only child so he got lucky and was stationed stateside.

[@wms1650]

The first time I got to go fly was 1973, I was 17. Mr. Baker, a crop duster, my employer asked if I wanted to go for a ride. Heck yeah!! We went in an AT6. He did some slow turns and asked "are you OK". I said yes. Then he did steep turns, a barrel roll and a loop. I loved the ride. Every bit of it. He didn't let me have the controls but the flight was great. After getting out Mr. Baker asked if I was scared. I told him Not one bit. He bought the AT6 for about 7,000 and he sold it mid late 1970s when his two Thrust Commanders needed rebuilt engines. His AT6 had an exhaust pipe that was about 5 or 6 Ft. long that ran beside the fuselage. I think it was for the cabin heater.

[@CodBoomer18]

You guys make the best videos

[@Wings_Museum]

Thank you!!!

[@TheblueTraxxasRustler]

Same

[@sjrlas]

My husband and I owned a T28-B trainer the "Trojan". 1475 Wright/Cyclone engine 300mph that I sat in the back with oxygen and parachute doing formation flying for 16yrs. Loved that airplane! There's one on display at Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah. Sadly, after the divorce in 2000 I still miss flying in it. He still works on the bird at our hanger in RNO. Neat ol' A/C. The good old days.

[@harrisonberdan6277]

My grandfather instructed in the SNJ and SNB out of Pensacola. I'm going to have to go peek through his logbooks. Love the short little insights you all share. Even when I consider myself a reasonably knowledgeable aviation enthusiast and pilot, I still find myself learning some new tidbit. Can't wait to see what other warbirds you cover!

[@johnz6066]

Ever been to the Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola? I highly recommend it.

[@Dingus440]

John Z been there amazing museum

[@victormanuelpolanco922]

What a beautiful airplane the SNJ still looks and is. Legendary, world- class and elegant. You just didn't experience through your first ever loop, you did it under the auspices of a timeless flight trainer, the venerable T-6. How cool is that Mathew????.

[@sloppydog4831]

Nice to see Matthew having fun with a live aircraft.

[@archiemiddlefell4356]

This is probably my new favourite episode!

[@gregkal2007]

………….. I too once flew the famous AT-6 Texan back in 1965, and what a great experience it was. I I was surprised at the surge in speed it took when the landing gears retracted on take off. It was the first aircraft I had ever flown with retractable landing gears.

[@mariogeling2713]

Nice movie can't wait to see what else you have to come👍

[@johnmcmahon8616]

Great show. My first major diorama model build many years ago was a T-6. Had it set up on an airstrip with men and vehicles. Entered it in the San Diego Aerospace museum contest and won second place.

[@piketubeman]

Loved this video style. Excellent job.

[@nox-gameguitar7988]

Magic!!! Great job!!! Thank you

[@seanc.5310]

Went for a ride in one of these Texans with the Collings foundation in MA. RIP B-17 and all lost onboard, very sad

[@dylanparker2132]

Finally back!!!

[@Sholto_David]

Awesome, looking forward to the next videos!

[@wadejustanamerican1201]

Awesome!

[@Melody_Raventress]

The part where he turned on the smoke and the cockpit IMMEDIATELY filled with it was a nice touch. Had I been there it would have been alarming, but it was amusing to watch.

[@ParkerUAS]

It isn't that alarming, actually. The smoke is generated by pumping the smoke oil (paraffin based) into the exhaust. The T-6 exhaust is on the right side and fairly close to the fresh air for the cabin. Not the best design, you smell the exhaust when you fly. The rear cockpit gets it a bit more than the front, but if you crack the rear canopy open a bit (there is a catch stop for it) the air passes through better and you hardly notice it. The T-6 is really a beauty to fly, but the front seat is better. I would not recommend flying on a hot day as the "greenhouse" will bake you. Come to think of it, heating isn't wonderful either, so avoid those frigid days as well.

[@Melody_Raventress]

Guess they weren’t too concerned with creature comforts in these old designs.

[@ParkerUAS]

@@Melody_Raventress , it was a "are you being shot at? Then you're comfortable enough."

[@adamsaffell2361]

Awesome!!!

[@MatthewWright001]

Wish you did a little more in-depth look at the cockpit and explained the "smoke on" and stuff which is what I love about the old eps. but the production quality is amazing and I'm excited for this next season! :)

[@ParkerUAS]

The smoke is often an aftermarket addition on the T-6. It wasn't common on most of the aircraft being produced during the war. As such the switch is located in various places based on what the owner wanted. I have seen it most often on the electrical switch panel which is on the right side of the front cockpit near the pilots knee. There is quite a bit of open real estate here to add switches and indicators. I saw one where the grip on the stick was replaced with a grip from an F8F and the trigger was hooked to the smoke. That was a pretty modified cockpit and wasn't really representative of anything stock.

[@claudio743]

So cool bud!!!!!

[@mattd1142]

In Canada we have a longer exhaust on them and we call them Harvards.

[@sdc5683]

Went for a ride in one of these 3 years ago. In Canada they are called Harvard's. Same yellow color .Awesome airplanes and a great tribute to all our WW2 vets in the USA and Canada.Please check out Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association website or Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum for more T6/Harvards.

[@jroar123]

I flew this back in the late 70’s from Stone Mountain airport.

[@SeminarChauffeur]

Please do an episode for the F-8 Crusader too thanks!

[@jackcook6644]

PA on the tail doesn't stand for Pensacola. It stands for the Instructor Basic Training Unit at NAS Corry Field, Pensacola.

[@erikchant6157]

Can we get an F-101 Voodoo Behind the Wings?

[@wasim486]

I want a 5 dollar course in an S2C 🤷‍♂️

[@ParkerUAS]

I ain't no penny pincher. I'd take it at twice the price! 🤣

[@tuck6349]

would you be able to do one on F-22 or F-35?

[@YourSimCFI]

Do the f-18 or a10 please

[@renegadecyclekarts]

Hey Matthew? are you going to continue Behind the Wings at The Museum of Flight? Or is this the end of BTW? inquiring minds want to know?

[@flightexpress4039]

Great video! Can you do the F-101 voodoo. Thanks👨🏻‍✈️

[@Wings_Museum]

It's on the list!

[@joshuajones3181]

Can we please have a spitfire MK 1 behind the wings

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

Worked for a guy who had two of these

[@robertofigueroa4800]

I want to watch a video about T-33, please. I flew the T-33

[@lukehickory735]

Do a b 17e or e/l or g mode

[@ryanbowers1502]

Do the voodo

[@guitarshredddddder91]

Seems like your audio failed halfway through...

[@5xls]

I think he says "Five hour course", not "Five dollar course". :-)

[@austin1018]

do f-111

[@austin1018]

yeah

[@infinitepickle3727]

Unrelated to the video: That moment when you find out that you live two houses down from Bud Day’s son

[@psycoticreaction9135]

Hey Matthew. Liked it better when your hair was short. It is hard for me to see some "HIPPIE" looking guy talking up ANYTHING MILITARY. When my dad came back from Vietnam, it was "HIPPIE LOOKING DUDES" that spat on him as he walked down the concourse at Stapleton airport. Sorry for the stereotype but there it is. I am sure that this is not what was intended, but for so many Vietnam families, this is what we remembered. Sorry. P.S. love your museum!!!!

[@wockyslush3038]

Why did i get a Bernie campaign commercial on this video?

[@stankakol5195]

Dude, get a hair cut. The 1960s are over.

[@Jagerhunter71]

Kinda looking like Jesus..

[@munched55]

Keep clicking on this channel's notices hoping the over-the-top presenter has been replaced with someone more serious (and adult) but, nope.

[@piketubeman]

Maybe try watching the other videos on the channel. Or don't click on this channel.

[@Sholto_David]

Heaven forbid he's having too much fun. Go read a book.

[@Melody_Raventress]

Sorry to hear you don’t like fun. Why not go be boring elsewhere?

[@ParkerUAS]

He is appealing to an audience for a museum. This means aviation geeks and those with only a mild interest. They might be 6 or 96. As such I think his fun personality makes it more appealing to the vast majority. If it was deadpan only the aviation geeks (that likely know most of this stuff already) would see it. If he did it as a pure whimsical aimed at kids then then adults would steer clear. He is having fun and teaching people about some awesome aircraft and their history.

[@TheReadBaron91]

I think these air on PBS and is tailored to gain interest in aviation in younger audiences.