T-28 A

A Models from Oshkosh 2017

White was the popular color on the A's last year.  This was a clean airplane.

N3313G with the updated and better balanced 23D40 Hamilton Standard prop.  The new owner also refreshed the entire airplane, a great caretaker.

 

 

Del Auray's T-28A N3313G

When I was 6, in 1972, my best buddy was Tom Auray, we lived in Southport, Connecticut.  I will never forget the day his dad Del flew over our house in a tight circle, sounded like a machine gun up there.  I asked my dad, a Pilot for PanAm, he said it was a T-28.  That did it for me, that was the plane I wanted.

A few years ago, Tom, who is now living in Igor Sikorsky's old house of all places, sent this picture to me.   I need to go back and visit Tom.  He told me that his dad had at least two engine out dead stick landings.  He would fly on business up and down the east coast.  Also, this airplane was previously owned by Avco Lycoming, licensed builder of the Curtiss Wright R1820 and R1300, at Bridgeport Airport in Connecticut.  They were building helicopter turbines for Sikorsky's and using this airplane for filming.  Interesting as well was the paint scheme, this was identical to the one North American used on the promotion airplane, prototype T-28B model to the Navy.  Bob Hoover flew it around to bases to demonstrate it.

This airplane is still active, I saw it at Oshkosh last year, funny to touch her after 48 years.  It's also a sister to the one I am restoring.