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About Our
Trojans
The Trojan Phlyers own and operate two T-28B aircraft. Both
aircraft have Wright Cyclone R1820-86B nine-cylinder radial
engines rated at 1425 horsepower. The fully aerobatic aircraft
can takeoff in less than 800 feet of runway, climb to 10,000
feet in less than 90 seconds, race level above 335 MPH, and dive
faster than 380 MPH. In fact, the T28 can outperform most World
War II fighters at low altitude.
All
of the Trojan Phlyers’ aircraft were used by the US Navy as
primary flight trainers. These aircraft were used to teach Navy
and Marine aviators basic transition, formation, aerobatics, and
instrument procedures and techniques. After flying in the Navy
for 14 years, one of our aircraft was reassigned to the US Air
Force to train foreign pilots to fly the T28. Subsequently, that
aircraft was shipped overseas to Thailand and Cambodia where it
was flown in combat by Khmer Air Force pilots

Our aircraft, Bu#138287, with the number “28” painted on the
cowling and with Navy markings, is a true warbird, officially
registered as an AT28D. The aircraft was built by the North
American Aircraft Company in 1953 at Downey, California.
Accepted into service with the U.S. Navy on 22 July
1955, this aircraft was originally assigned to NAS North Island,
California at the Fleet All Weather Training Unit Pacific (FAWTUPAC).
In May 1960, the aircraft was assigned to NAAS Whiting Field,
Florida, more specifically to TRARON 3 (VT-3) “Red Knights” at
South Whiting Field. It served with VT-3 from May 1960 until
July 1964 when it moved to North Whiting Field to fly with
TRARON 2 (VT-2) “Doerbirds”, and then to TRARON 6 (VT-6)
“Shooters” from January 1965 until July 1968 when the aircraft
returned to TRARON 2. The aircraft remained with TRARON 2 until
1969 when it was transferred to the U.S. Air Force and on to
Keesler AFB, Mississippi where it flew as a trainer for foreign
student pilots from February 1970 until November 1972.
On 16 November 1972 the aircraft was stricken
from U.S. military service, but the plane didn’t stop flying
then. Disassembled, crated, and shipped overseas to Udorn,
Thailand, the aircraft was reassembled and assigned to Squadron
BA.111 of the Khmer Air Force, the “Khmer Republic” where it
flew combat missions. In March 1975 the aircraft was reassigned
to the US/MACTHAI and in February 1976 it was disassembled once
again for shipment to the Philippine Air Force. Apparently the
plane and others sat in crates for over a decade before it and
others were purchased by an American businessman from Atlanta,
Georgia. In February 1990, the Trojan Phlyers purchased the
disassembled aircraft and restored it to flying condition…
complete with three patched bullet holes from action in
Southeast Asia. See information about the aircraft’s restoration
on the “Restoration” website page.
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Today the aircraft, “28”, flies as the wing
aircraft of the formation pair since it is the lightest aircraft
with the quickest response.
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- Our aircraft, Bu# 138164, with the number “27” painted on the
cowl and with “USAF” markings, was built by the North American
Aviation Company in 1953 at Downey, California. The aircraft was
accepted into Navy service on 9 November 1954 and stricken from
Navy lists in January 1984 after some 29 plus years of military
duty.
- During its years of military service, this aircraft
served with Attack Squadron 122 (VA-122) “Flying Eagles” at NAS
Lemoore, California from June 1968 until February 1969. Then the
aircraft flew at NAS Whiting Field, Florida with the “Red
Knights” of TRARON 3 from August 1969 until April 1972, and then
with the “Shooters” of TRARON 6 from September 1973 until
November 1976. In December 1976 the plane was transferred to
COMTRAWING 5 at NAS Pensacola, Florida. In June 1978 the T-28
moved to its final duty station, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas,
where it flew with TRARON 27 “Boomers” until it retired from
service in January 1984. The aircraft retired to the Military
Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) at Davis-Monthan
AFB, Arizona.
- The aircraft was purchased by a private individual
and restored to flying condition, and subsequently sold to the
Trojan Phlyers Corporation in 2000. The aircraft is the heaviest
and most stable of the three Trojan Phlyers’ aircraft, therefore
it is normally used as the lead aircraft in the formation
demonstration.
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