The North American AT-6 Texan is a single-engine low-wing trainer originally developed in the United States during the 1930s. The type is available in several different versions and was also manufactured under license by, among others by Noorduyn in Canada where it was named AT-16 Harvard IIB.

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After the end of the WWII, the Swedish Air Force was given the opportunity to purchase a number of Noorduyn AT-16s from the extensive surplus stock that existed then. The idea was to replace the Air Force's trainer SK 14 with a more modern type II training. In 1947, Swedish Air Force bought 147 of AT-16 manufactured by Noorduyn in Canada. The aircraft were gathered from several different military bases in Canada and flown to an airfield in New Jersey USA where they were disassembled and packed in boxes for sea transport to Sweden.
In Sweden, the aircraft was designated SK 16A.

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In 1950 it was decided to purchase several more SK 16. By now, however, the supply was more limited than in the first purchase. The aircraft that were eventually purchased had longer run times (1075 - 4900 hours) and were of slightly different versions (AT-6 / SNJ). A total of 112 aircraft were now purchased and, after delivery, assembled in Västerås (CVV), of which 106 were SK 16B (AT-16) and 6 SK 16C (SNJ). Delivery to the Swedish Air Force took place between 1951-1954.

SK 16A was mainly supplied (about 75) to the F5 / Ljungbyhed for basic flight training. Some 30 aircraft were also placed at the Swedish Air Force Cadet School F20 / Uppsala.

Later, SK 16A, in smaller numbers, came to be added to all Air Force wings where they were used for general aviation training, weather and liaison flights. SK 16B and SK 16C were taken out of service as early as 1957-1958. However, SK 16A remained in service with the Swedish Air Force until 1972.

This individual included in the Västerås Aviation Museum is a SK 16A manufactured in 1943 by Noorduyn Aviation, Montreal Canada s / n 14-526 and is thus a real Warbird as it has participated in the Second World War as a trainer for the Allies.
The aircraft has the following history:

• 1943-45, USAAF reg. 42-12279, then RAF reg. FE792

• 1947, service aircraft for the Swedish Flight Attorney in Washington DC, code SE-01

• 1953-56, Air Force F7 Såtenäs, code F7-144

• 1956-72, Air Force F6 Karlsborg, code F6-144, later F6-74

• 1972, discharged from the Air Force

• 1973-ff, Swedish Civil Aviation Register, SE-FUZ

Please email to:

anders.jacobsen@telia.com

e.holm@svetsoteknik.se