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.

              Aircraft #26, Bu# 140047 with USMC markings, was built by the North American Aircraft Company in 1954 at Columbus, Ohio. The aircraft was accepted into service with the U.S. Navy on 22 February 1956. It spent 1958-1960 at NAF Litchfield Park (FFT) VR(F)31, then in April 1960 it went to VT-3, the “Red Knights” at NAAS Whiting (South Field). In August of 1963 the aircraft was assigned to NABTC at NAAS Saufly Field, then it returned to VT-3 in April 1966. In June of 1970, the aircraft was assigned to MCAS New River, but in May 1974 it returned once again to VT-3 at NAS Whiting where it flew until December 1976 when it was transferred to Training Wing 5 at NAS Pensacola. The aircraft was subsequently sent to VT-6 “Shooters” in January 1980 where it remained until February 1983 when it was retired to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center at David- Monthan AFB, Arizona. The aircraft was stricken from service on 24 February 1983 after serving 27 years and 2 days with the U.S. Navy.
            This aircraft came to the Trojan Phlyers in 1999, and now has over 16,000 hours of flight time. Today, this aircraft flies as the wing aircraft of the formation pair since it is the lightest aircraft with the quickest response and highest roll rate.

           

            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. This aircraft is the heaviest and most stable of the two Trojan Phlyers’ aircraft, therefore it is normally used as the lead aircraft in the formation demonstration.