T-6G Texan 51-14337, 75th FIS, Presque Isle AFB, 1952

“The Pilot Maker” was the name the North American T-6 Texan earned over the years. With over 17,000 produced in several versions these planes trained countless thousands of would-be pilots from every corner of the world. This little plane had a 58- year career in military service from 1938 until 1996 when the South African Air Force became the last air force in the world to retire their T-6. Even after most military retired the plane hundreds if not thousands of them found a new life in civilian service.