North American NA-50 Replica
The North American Aviation NA-50 was developed as a simple single-seat, low-wing, single-engine fighter immediately prior to World War II. North American originally intended to market the NA-50 to small countries in need of a simple aircraft with modern capabilities and features. To minimize engineering and productions costs, the design was developed from the NA-16/BT-9 basic training aircraft of 1935. The NA-16 evolved into a series of aircraft (including the North American AT-6/SNJ) that were some of the most widely used advanced and basic training aircraft of World War II and the years and several years thereafter.
The NA-50 in the air show is unique, having been built by WestPac Restorations in 1989 from North American NA-50 drawings using a North American SNJ4 fuselage, T6G wings shortened by 72″ to a wingspan of 35’6″ with the center wing flap faired over, and an SNJ2/NA50-style rudder installed.
The NA-50 was powered by an 840 hp Wright R-1820-G3 radial air-cooled engine that gave the NA-50 a top speed of 295 mph at 9,500 ft. It was armed with two .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns.
Following are specifications for the NA50 replica:
| Maximum Speed: 295 mph at 9,500 ft | Length: 31 ft 4 in |
| Cruise Speed: 235 | Height: 9 ft |
| Power Plant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-61 600 HP | Guns: 2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns2 × 20 mm cannons (Located in pods beneath each wing) Bombs: 750 lb (340 kg) bombs |