	Lloyd Stearman was a partner with Walter Beech and Clyde Cessna in the pre-war Travel Air company. When he left and formed his own company, one of his first products was this robust, safe but extremely agile biplane, which became the standard basic trainer for the US armed forces. Universally known simply as a `Stearman', it is more properly known as the Stearman A75, or later as the Boeing-Stearman Kaydet after the Stearman company was acquired by Boeing shortly before the war. It bore several US military designations: the basic PT-13, with 200hp Lycoming R-680 engine; PT-17, with 220hp Continental R-670 engine; PT-18, with 225hp Jacobs R-755 engine; PT-27, for PT-17s built in Canada; and N2S, for any of the above in service with the Navy rather than the Army Air Force. All had a length of 24 feet 3 inches, wing span of 32 feet 2 inches, top speed of around 105mph, range of about 470 miles and gross weight of 2,700 lb. The model 75 first flew in 1936. Over 10,300 of all variants were built. Many are still in use, including this one seen at Le Touquet in September 2005. The pylon on the upper wing is a harness for a wing-walker; it is one of two similarly equipped Stearmen which regularly perform wing-walking aerobatic displays at air shows throughout Britain and northern Europe.
	Claude Ryan's name in aviation had been made by his stylish M-1 mailplane and the `Spirit of St Louis', in which Charles Lindbergh became the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic. The Ryan ST (`Sports Trainer') first flew in 1939, and was adopted by the US Army Air Force as its first ever monoplane trainer, named the Ryan Recruit. It was lighter (1,860lb) and faster (130 mph) than the Stearman, though similarly sized (22 feet 5 inches long, 30 feet one inch wing span). Range was 350 miles. It too went through many military designation: the original PT-16 had a 120hp Menasco inline engine; the PT-20 had a Kinner R-440 radial; the PT-21 was a developed version of the PT-20; the PT-22 had a more powerful 160hp Kinner R-540. The PT-25, powered by a 185hp Lycoming engine, was built entirely of wood to save strategic materials during the war. The NR was any of the above serving with the US Navy. All told, 1,273 Recruits were built. The PT-21 is airworthy in the UK and is pictured at Old Warden in Summer 2005.
	The Fairchild PT-19 Cornell was a larger (2,730lb; 27 feet 8 inches long; 36 feet wing span) trainer than the light Ryan Recruit, and served in larger numbers (11,745 of all models were built). Speed, at 125mph, was similar, and range (400 miles) a bit more. Its three military designations were PT-19 (175hp Ranger inline engine), PT-23 (220hp Continental R-670 radial) and PT-26 (200hp Ranger inline, built in Canada). This PT-19 was at Cranfield in 1996.
	The North American AT-6 Harvard (Texan) advanced trainer is probably the trainer built in the largest numbers (21,342, including Navy SNJs and Canadian built Noorduyn AT-16s) of any training aircraft in history. It is also the only aircraft I can recognise within a second of hearing it by sound alone: the unique gearing of the 600hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine makes the propeller tips go faster than the speed of sound, giving a characteristic crackling whine. First flown in 1935, it is a big (29 feet 6 inches long, 42 feet wing span) and heavy (5,300lb gross weight) aircraft, with excellent handling characteristics. Maximum speed is 208mph and range is 750 miles. There were some interesting derivatives: the BT-14 Yale was a simplified version with fixed undercarriage and a smaller engine; 41 examples of an attack version, the A-27, were built; and 13 were built as a fighter version, the P-64. Top: AT-6A was at a gathering of European Harvards at Bassingbourn in May 1978. Lower: Harvard at Goodwood, April 2006.
	The North American T-28 Trojan was designed as a post-war advanced trainer successor to the Harvard. It is a powerful machine, equipped with a 1,425hp Wright R-1820 Cyclone engine. Length is 33 feet and wing span 40 feet. Gross weight is 7,880lb, top speed 345mph, and range 1,000 miles. It first flew in September 1949. Service life was relatively short, because its role was adopted by the new generation of jet trainers. Nevertheless, 2,230 were built, including several under license by Sud Aviation in France as the Fennec. This Fennec was at Blackbushe in September 1978.
	The Lockheed T-33 was essentially a two seat trainer development of the famous P-80 Shooting Star, America's second jet fighter after the unsuccessful Bell P-59 Airacomet, which flew just too late to see service in the second world war. The T-33 first flew in March 1948, and proved a superb jet trainer; it remained in service with several air forces into the 1990s. It is powered by a single Allison J-33 turbojet of 5200lb thrust, giving it a top speed of 600mph and range of 1,345 miles. Gross weight is 14,442lb; wing span 38 feet 10 inches; and length 37 feet 9 inches. All told, 5,691 were built. This one was at Duxford in June 1984.
	The Beech T-34 Mentor (company designation Beech 45) was a tandem trainer developed using the wings and dynamic systems of the famous Bonanza. It first flew in 1948. Powered by a 225hp Continental piston engine, its top speed was 188mph, and range was 770 miles. Gross weight was 2,900lb; length, 25 feet 10 inches; wing span, 32 feet 10 inches. 1,300 were built. Several were later converted to turboprop power. Many have now found their way to civilian operators. This T-34 was at Thruxton in July 1978 (with apologies for the deteriorating slide!)
	The Cessna T-37 was developed as a dedicated jet trainer for the US Air Force. For safety, it was powered by two Continental J-69 turbojets, each of 1,025lb thrust. This gave it a top speed of 410mph and range of 650 miles. It first flew in October 1954. As a basic trainer, it is much smaller (28 feet 3 inches long, 35 feet 10 inches wing span) and lighter (6,580lb gross weight) than the advanced trainer T-33. 1,300 were built; in addition, 580 were built as the A-37 Dragonfly, a ground attack version which could be equipped with a variety of armament on underwing stores points. These T-37Bs were at Mather in September 1981.
	The North American (Rockwell) T-39 Sabreliner was originally developed as a navigation and aircrew training aircraft for the US Air Force, and for the US Navy as the T3J. With a normal complement of 9 people, it was also ideal as an executive transport; the CT-39 version was built specifically for this role. Later, the design was developed for the civil business jet market, and found significant success, mainly in the US. Its two 3,000lb thrust Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojets give it a top speed of 500mph and range of 1,950 miles. Gross weight is 17,760lb; length, 43 feet 8 inches; wing span, 44 feet 4 inches. It first flew in September 1958. About 600 of all versions, military and civil, were made. Note the unusual pear-shaped windows. This CT-39A was at Greenham Common in June 1979.
	The Beech T-42 Cochise is a military version of the B-55 Baron, used as an instrument trainer and light liaison aircraft. It has the same two 260hp Continental IO-520 engines, giving it a top speed of 200mph and range of 920 miles. it first flew in 1965; 65 were built. This one was at Mather in September 1981.
	The Boeing T-43A is a designation used for nineteen Boeing 737s bought by the US Air Force in 1972 for use as navigation trainers. They are readily told from their civil counterparts by the irregular pattern of windows - though the `US Air Force' markings are a bit of a giveaway, too. They are still in service in 2005. This one was at Fairford in July 2005
	The Grumman NGT was a one off private venture trainer, designed for a USAF New generation Trainer contest which the Air Force abandoned in favour of the JPATS contest (which was won by the Pilatus PC-9). It used the same platform as the Peregrine single engined business jet. Only one was built; it crashed in late 1983 and was not replaced. It was pictured at Paris in May 1983.
	Beech T1A Jayhawk Fairford, July 2007