The North American Aviation T-6 Texan two-place advanced trainer was the classroom for most of the Allied pilots who flew in World War II. Called the SNJ by the Navy and the Harvard by the British Royal Air Force, the advanced trainer AT-6 was designed as a transition trainer between basic trainers and first-line tactical aircraft. It was redesignated T-6 in 1948.
Continue reading The History of the P&W R-1340 Powered T-6 Texan
Flying this iconic aircraft is a challenge, in terms of preparation, operation and landing — but what a joy!
Continue reading Flight Test: Beech 18 Expeditor
The Vultee Aircraft Corp. BT-13 “Valiant” was a single-engine, tandem-seat trainer produced for the U.S. Army Air Corps, U.S. Navy and foreign allies prior to and during World War II. The aircraft was selected and produced as a primary and follow-on intermediary trainer due to its ruggedness, forgiving flight characteristics and stability. Most of the pilots produced in the early years of World War II conducted initial training, or Basic Training, hence the BT name, on the BT-13.
Continue reading Tinker Celebrates 75 Years: Vultee BT-13 aircraft profile
This is the fourth topic in the series about the 100 hour / annual inspection. This series focuses on maintenance performed during an effective 100 hr. inspection on R1340 and R985 engines:
Continue reading The 100 hour Radial Engine Annual Inspection Series – Compression Check
This article focuses on one specific item of maintenance performed during an effective 100 hr. inspection on R985 and R1340 engines: Ignition timing check.
Continue reading Magneto Timing on a Pratt R985 or R1340 Radial Engine
“How long did you say the engine sat idle?” What should be done to an engine to return it to service after it has sat idle for years? Answering that question requires the answer to several other questions: Was the engine preserved before it was put into storage? Was it stored in a climate controlled facility? No? Out in the weather? Were the exhaust stack(s) and carburetor air inlets plugged? Was the engine periodically run-up to operating temperature? Did it have preservative oil ran in the engine before entering storage?
There are a few practices that will help you to get the best service life out of your engine and enhance safety.
They have been broken up into two topics:
Operational and Maintenance
Continue reading Going the Distance with Radial Engines
For private pilots and aircraft owners, the motivation behind this pursuit can be personal, but it can also be practical. Along with a love of aeronautics, pilots are also in tune with engine performance, as this does impact the overall experience. For owners of small commercial fleets, a focus on safety and efficient performance can often be the deciding factor in terms of what type of aircraft and what type of engine will provide the strongest asset.
Continue reading The Feeling Of Flying Radials
At Covington Aircraft, installing radial engines is part of our regular routine.
However, we find that many pilots and aircraft enthusiasts enjoy working on their own airplane, as this knowledge of mechanics can provide better safety during flight. By understanding the operation and parts of the radial engine, it also becomes easier to identify possible problems quickly, and to troubleshoot concerns in-flight for a smoother journey. Continue reading Getting A Fresh Start On Your Radial Engine
In the aviation field, there are lots of different engines that drive our aircraft upwards and forwards. From the huge turboprops on jets to smaller turbine engines and beyond, there are many different types of engines out there. One of the most popular has been and remains the radial engine, and understanding more about it is important. Continue reading Just How Does A Radial Engine Work?