North American T-6

Connie Edwards, long time sparkplug of the warbird movement and quinessential Texan is credited with saying,

"Start out in a Bearcat, transition to the P-51 and then you're ready for the T-6."

Edwards was referring to the T--6's less-then-spotless reputation for ground handling.

And he's right.

Many civilians transitioning into fighter aircraft are amazed at how much easier fighters are to handle (in most situations, anyway) then the old Texan, a supposedly easily-tamed "trainer.

" When I got my chance to fly Mustangs, I was amazed and relieved to find this was absolutely the case.

If the P-51 had been the quantum jump up from the T-6 in ground handling difficulties that it was in aerial performance,
my first Mustang hop would have culminated in a spectacular fire at the edge of the runway.

Even if I kept control and survived the flight, I would have drowned in post-flight adrenaline flow.

Obviously..............................