The North American T-6 Texan was one of the most important and widely used training aircraft of the 20th century. Designed and built by the renowned American company starting in the second half of the 1930s, it was characterized by a low-wing configuration and an all-metal structure with a tandem cockpit capable of accommodating both instructor and trainee. It was powered by a radial Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine producing approximately 600 horsepower, which ensured good performance and flight characteristics similar to those of contemporary fighter aircraft, making it ideal for preparing pilots for transition to operational aircraft. The T-6 was actively used, including in operational missions, during the 1950s and 1960s by more than 60 air forces from numerous countries, including the United States, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Brazil.