Question about old airplane

[Bayless]

For those of you who may know. When I was a little feller, about 1950 or so, my uncle had an airplane. He said it was a WWII fighter trainer. As I recall, it looked something like a P40 except it was 2 seater, fore and aft. Can anyone tell me what it was? I knew at one time but now all I remember is how much fun it was.

 

[NutmegCT]

One of the most popular WW2 flight trainers was the two seater Stearman:

One advanced trainer was the AT-6 Texan:

North American AT-6/SNJ-6 | Lyon Air Museum

The North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s. Designed by North American...

web.archive.org

Hope this helps!
Tom M.

 

[NutmegCT]

A fighter trainer that's *really* like a P-40 was the P-40ES two seater:

 

[Bayless]

Thanks. That P40ES us the closest to what my aging memory recalls. Man, that was a long time ago. Could a civilian have owned one of those that soon after the war? My uncle had a good job but he was not what one would call wealthy.

 

[NutmegCT]

The Reconstruction Finance Administration, and the War Assets Admin, put about a hundred thousand unneeded a/c on the market after the war. Many combat-ready a/c were bought by, or transferred to, other countries' air forces.

Many were bought by the airlines and private corporations (DC-3s, 2s, Curtiss Commandos, even a few B-24s, etc.) after removal of sensitive hardware (armaments, radio, radar, etc.). There were around 30 depots around the USA with a/c for sale.

Imagine buying your own AT-6 for $1500.

The RFA had actually been created under President Hoover, to deal with the early economic woes of the "Depression".

A good reference:

Scrapped - Trainers and Fighters and Bombers, Oh My!

commemorativeairforce.org

And some probably ended up as eye-catchers on the roof of a bar, lounge, hardware store, or restaurant.

Tom M.

 

[Bayless]

Wow, thanks Tom. Imagine a P51 for $3500. I wonder what one would go for today? I guess if you could get a real top grade fighter for that kind of money then a trainer could have been pretty cheap.

 

[PAUL161]

Figure around $1,000,000 plus for a 51 in airworthy condition.

Right after the war, Stearmans could be had for approx. $700. ea! But at first, you had to buy a batch of 10 or more that later changed. Most military aircraft sales were set similarly that way. My Stearman was a Navy version, airworthy with a rebuilt 225 engine, and cost me, in 1964 $6,000 plus change. PJ

 

[JPSmit]

Obviously I have no more a way of knowing than anyone but your memory, but, I would continue to suggest the AT-6 Texan (Harvard in Canada) may be the one. Many more of them were made than P-40s and likely LOTS more than P-40ES trainers. My understanding is that they are very flyable and they seem even now to be a fairly common plane of that era to be in private hands.

 

[Bayless]

Well my memory probably isn't going to give a real answer but it has been a fun discussion anyway. And, I have learned a little bit.

 

[LarryK]

Flew one like this at 10 yrs old. My Dad's work partner was a Navy pilot and owned this and a 4 passenger Stearman. We ere up and he told me to grab the stick, talk about being scared. Was fun afterwards, just never took to flying.

 

[mikephillips]

From ads I've seen in historic aviation magazines a Mustang these days will probably run in the $4-5m asking range if you can find one for sale.