T-6 Floatplane

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
What is known of this a/c a T-6 Texan known as the KN-1.

A single T-6F damaged in a crash during the Korean War that was rebuilt as a floatplane by the Republic of Korea Navy

Anyone know which a/c this was ?

Were any others so converted say in Canada/ Middle East/ India during WW2 ?

Are there any photos of this floatplane ?

Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Alex

Not much help with the Korean conversion, which only gets a very superficial mentioning in the literature. There is a photo of it on page 54 in the T-6 Texan in action (Squadron Signal 94). The caption says it was a 6147th TCS(A) T-6F which ran out of gas and crashed at Kwangju in December 1950. It was hauled to Chinhae where it was modified with a central float from a Nakajima Rufe (floatequipped Zero) and wingtip floats from P-80 tip tanks. It was known as the KN-1. No serial visible, only the usual large K on the fin/rudder. Looks pretty neat if you ask me, but cannot have been very useful.

Also I am pretty certain no other nation converted any T-6 into a float plane.

For your information, North American had plans themself for such a version, the P-292 project (only existed on a drawing) equipped with twin Edo floats, but it all came to nothing.

Cheers
Stig

[Leendert]

Alex,
From another website: was AT-6F 44-81691 (TA-691) which crashed on 17 Dec 1950.



Regards,
Leendert

[Leendert]

USAF crew was/were Capt. Wayne Sawyer and 1st Lt Lawrence J. Powers.


Regards,
Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Great find Leendert

However by 1950, the type was known as T-6F (AT-6F was the USAAF designation).

Cheers
Stig

[Graham Boak]

The French magazine Air Fan did an RNZAF floatplane conversion on their model pages in the early 80s(?). It was however the equivalent of a poisson d'avril.

[Alex Smart]

Thanks for this extra info Graham.
Most welcome
Alex

[bearoutwest]

Photo of KN-1 available if you google search:
T-6 Texan Floatplane

Photo shows KN-1 in harbour preparing for water-taxiing with crane in background. Single central float with multiple support struts. Outrigger floats with multiple strut supports.

...geoff

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Geoff, will take a look
Alex

[AndyMa]

Originally Posted by Leendert

Alex,
From another website: was AT-6F 44-81691 (TA-691) which crashed on 17 Dec 1950.
Regards,
Leendert

The photo at:
http://www.warbirdinformationexchang...hp?f=3&t=47413
seems to show the aircraft as TA-681