Mudge's question of the day

[Mudge]

I don't recall any of youse troops ever saying you liked the T-28
Is it actually the POS that so many of you claim? Why?

Mudge the educable

[Jerry O'Neill]

I've always liked the T-28.
As a matter of fact, I'm one of the "Upright Brothers"!
Jerry

[Bill Greenwood]

The T-28, has its fans; I think some of the guys that trained in them like it.

But to me, it has less appeal. It's sort of an in between, it came along after the great prop planes of WWII, yet is isn't a step up in performance like an F-86. Looks wise, I just prefer the smaller, sleeker more streamlined types like the P-51 or Spit. And the 28 doesn't have the same combat history as earlier types. The engine sound always makes me think it has a few fouled plugs. One thing it is very good for, is a photo plane as the larger engine models can cruise fast enough that you can fly formation with them easier than with a T-6 or T-34. The best photo plane other than another fighter is probably a B-25.

I have only flown one twice, briefly and never solo. The first time was in a show in California. I do remember it had a decent amount of power on takeoff,seemed like a Mustang at 50 in. and that I felt sort of uncomfortable sitting so high in the air. It seemed to handle ok, but we never did any acro, as it was part of the show, so all I did was turn left.

[BigGrey]

I love the T-28. Bill missed the best part by not doing any acro. The view is great out of the plane. I was riding in the backseat one day when we did a formation take-off with a P-51 on the left wing and an F-4U on the right wing. I have to tell you the prop on the Corsair looks huge when it is tucked in close to you. I wish I had my camera but it was stashed away as we were heading out for me to do some acro.

Les

[Jack Cook]

It's a great a/c Mudge with the big engine. I grew up with them has my step-dad flew them in the Navy.
Tough a/c! One landed at Whiting once and the pilot requested to taxi back to the
active to go fly more. The controller responded by asking the pilot if he knew half the tail was gone!
Seemed he over g'ed it doing so wild acro and lost one complete horizontal stabilizer without know it.

Some little brat and a cool plane! VT-2 Whiting North Field 1976

[gary1954]

Hey....its got a Round Moter on it

[RickH]

No combat history, Bill ? Tell that to the guys who flew them in Africa and S.E. Asia. The Laotian pilots flew close air support against the North Vietnamese who were running supplies to S. Viet Nam as well as against the communist forces who were trying to take over their country. Those guys were already home, they flew until they died.

[Bill Greenwood]

Rick, please: you wrote "no combat history". But that is not an accurate quote with what I wrote, which was "not the same combat history as earlier types".

I am, of course aware that T-28s were in Nam in combat. Major Warner Giles, my friend and for my first years my co pilot, was an instructor in Nam in 28s to the S. Vietnamese. I don't know about Africa or T-28s there.

And everyone can have their own opinion. But I don't think many historians would rank the Vietnam War as of the same significance as WWII. It was not a "world war", though it had major costs in lives and money, and lasted a lot longer. We also did not win, and I don't see the T-28 as critical to either our success or failure there. They sure weren't facing a major air force opposition like going up against the Luftwaffe.
The type of airplane does not determine the effort of the crew or pilots.

And Mudge's original question was how we liked the 28, not whether their crew made a good effort there. I can't say for sure about the Laotion pilots. But Warner told me he was not very impressed with the guys he worked with, who as I recall were S Vietnamese. They were from protected backgrounds and did not want to fly at night or on the weekends. The VC and NVA did not view the war as a part time hobby.

[Mudge]

OK...I guess it has a few more fans than I imagined it did.

Mudge the educated

[hang the expense]

Training wheel on the wrong end

[wls3]

Trojan Horsemen, Formation Aerobatic Demo Team at Sun-n Fun this year.

[GIJOE290]

I like'em!

[Trey Carroll]

They sound like they want to kill themselves on takeoff I flew with Neal Melton in his T-28 down in Sevierville a few years ago. They roll quick, and are extremely light on the controls. Visibility rocks, but don't get your fingers caught in the canopy while it's closing!

Here's a picture from Doug Fisher when I went for my ride. Pretty neat paint job if you ask me!
http://www.warbirddepot.com/dbimages/42/42-h-1280.jpg

Trey

[Bill Greenwood]

I wish the problem that the military had with the tail had been better known in civilian life. The T-28 is so big and looks sturdy, that a weakness did not get as much attention as it should. I can't recall the details, but about 10 years ago there were problems with tail integrity. There were fatals and an AD with a reinforcing scheme or kit. But not all caught the problem in time. I had two friends killed near Colo Springs that way. They had ordered the parts, but not had them installed yet. I haven't heard about the problem in recent years.

[mustangdriver]

I am a t-28 fan. I had soem time in one, nothing crazy, but I loved it. The T-6 is great as well.