Béla P. Havasréti's Aviation Page 
North American SNJ-5B (BuNo 91077) project
This SNJ was built in December of 1944 at the North American Dallas plant in Texas. It
was surplused along with a batch of (30) others in Pensacola in the mid 1950's. From what
I've learned so far, the airframes languished in the North-Eastern United States until they
were purchased by an individual on the west coast. These airframes were eventually used in a
movie called "Swing Shift" which starred Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. I found and purchased my
SNJ "basket-case" from a gentleman in California. The airplane needs a lot of work but much of
it is surprisingly corrosion free considering the length of time some of the components have sat
outside. I have all the major airframe components for an SNJ-5 and I've also aquired a
partial Mk-IV Harvard project, but I don't have an engine, propeller, some instruments and
I am missing many small parts! If you have T-6/SNJ/Harvard parts for sale, I'd like to hear from
you. Click here
to see a list of T-6 parts I need. Click here
to see a list of T-6 parts I have for sale/trade. Note: I've recently learned that this SNJ-5 is actually an
SNJ-5B which is, I'm told, somewhat rare (there are currently 5 or 6 SNJ-5B's on the U.S. FAA register). Much
like an SNJ-5C is an SNJ-5 converted/modified by the Navy for carrier operations, apparently the B in SNJ-5B means
it was modified by the Navy for use as a 'dedicated' gunnery trainer. This conversion was undertaken right
before this aircraft was assigned to Saufley Field for use in Tactical Training in the Naval Air Basic
Training Command. Click here to see the service history of this SNJ-5B. Click
on the picture above to see some more shots of the project (updated 01/03/02).
1954 Cessna 170B - N170BP
I bought this '54 C-170B in August of 2002. I imported it from Canada. This 170 went straight
to Canada in 1954 (sold new) and stayed there all it's life until I "brought her home" in 2002.
It has a fresh engine overhaul, recent paint & interior. She's a lot of fun to fly. The aircraft
has a Sportsman STOL kit, aileron gap seals, MetCo wing tips, solid axles & Cleveland wheels & brakes.
I took the original small 600:6 tires off and put 850s on it. I also upgraded to double-puck brakes.
I had the prop re-pitched from a 53 to a 51 and although take-off performance improved, cruise speed
of course suffered.... I also have a spare 48 pitch climb prop which really makes the 170 perform
during takeoff (you get darned near all 145hp out of the engine, as it turns 2600+ static rpm with
this climb prop on it). With the 48 pitch prop bolted on, I can red-line the tach in a shallow
climb but it's so slow in cruise that Super Cubs can pass me down! This 170 can fly at 35-40mph
indicated. I could get it into impossibly short strips that I'd never get it back out of again!
1973 Citabria 7GCBC - N59086
This is an aircraft I used to rent/fly before I bought my B model Cessna 170. It belongs to an
FBO called Pro-Flight, located at the Renton, Washington airport (RNT). The 7GCBC was the only Citabria
produced with flaps. It's powered by a 150hp Lycoming O-320. She's lots of fun to fly and is quite
forgiving for a taildragger. This aircraft has a float kit fitted and Pro-Flight says they
will occaisonally mount the floats for seaplane instruction / ratings.
1953 Cessna 170B N4590C
This is the aircraft I cut my taildragger teeth on. It was on leasback to a flying club I
used to belong to called General Aviation, located on the Pierce County (Thun Field) airport
in Puyallup, Washington. After being ground-looped / wrecked three times that I'm aware
of (not by me!), I think the owners had enough and the aircraft was sold to a gentleman in
California. N4590C used to be available for rent down in Concord California along with
a Citabria that's based there, but I've (unfortunately) heard that she was wrecked again
(ground-looped) and written off. This ole' 170 was a sweetheart to fly and I missed her
big-time until I bought my '54 C-170B.
1980 Cessna 172RG N42682
This is the aircraft I used to fly when I actually wanted to go somewhere as opposed to just boring holes
in the sky. It belongs to the Crest Airpark Flight Club, located strangely enough on Crest
Airpark (S36) in Kent, Washington.
Nanchang CJ-6A (YAK-18-A / YAK-52)
I got the chance to ride in and briefly fly a Chinese-built CJ-6A similar to the aircraft pictured
here. The CJ-6A is similar to the Russian-built Yak-52 but there are plenty of folks that would
take me to task for making such a statement! Each type has their loyal followers and I'm
sure they both make for a fun ride and that's all that really matters.... I need to get
a picture scanned of the CJ-6A I rode in but it's owned by fellow EAA Warbirds of America
member Jim Lang. Jim restored his CJ-6 from a "kit" project he bought a few years back. The
project was partially dis-assembled as released from China. The CJ-6 is very light on the controls and scoots
right along. I flew it from the back seat in (very) loose formation with a couple of T-6's and we had to keep
coming back on the power so as we wouldn't run away from the T-6's! No, I'm not going to trade my SNJ project
for a CJ-6/Yak-52 project anytime soon but I was impressed with this little T-34-like aircraft. An added plus
is it's got a "real" (as in round) airplane engine that makes a great noise. On the negative side, the
tailwheel is on the wrong end....
North American MK-IV Harvard
John Mrazek gave me a ride in this fully restored MK-IV Harvard a few years back. "Pussycat" (what
it says on the nose art) is based in Vancouver, BC. You can watch Mr. Mrazek perform aerobatic solo
routines in this Harvard at various Pacific Northwest airshows.
1945 North American SNJ-6 BuNo 112049, N9809C
During a recent vacation to Florida, my Dad bought me a T-6 aerobatic / orientation flight in this
SNJ-6. Warbird Adventures, Inc. operate two T-6's out of the Kissimmee (ISM) airport in Florida
(the Texans are based right next to Tom Reilly's Flying Tigers Warbird Museum, which is a must-see!). Thomas Richard was my instructor for the flight, which was from the front seat (as it is for all customers!) Optional video and still camera services record your flight for posterity (which can be good or bad, depending upon how you do!). We covered cold-start, taxi, run-up and take-off procedures and for the aerobatic portion of my flight, we
did aileron rolls, point rolls (4-point & 8-point) loops, Immelmans, Split-S's and reverse Cuban eights. More
maneuvers are available if/as time permits. (Click on the SNJ picture above to see some in-flight shots taken
with the on-board camera system)
Visit the Warbird Adventures, Inc. web-site.
Also visit the
Flying Tigers Warbird Museum web-site.
North American T-28B Trojan N28CU
I was fortunate enough to ride in and briefly fly this North American T-28B Trojan in June of 1997. This T-28 belongs to R.D. "Crash" Williams who is the adjutant of the EAA Cascade Warbirds #2 squadron of which I am also a
member. Crash is standing on the wing in this shot. "Crash" is an ex-Air Force (Air National
Guard) fighter pilot and has a couple of thousand hours in the North American F-100 Super Sabre. I
accompanied Crash on one of his many trips to fly-ins and airshows that he attends yearly. The T-28 is a
two-finger machine.... It's very light and responsive on the controls. The response belies the
9000+ pound weight of the airplane. Crash's example is powered by a Wright Cyclone R-1820-86B that makes
1425 horse power. This T-28 will outclimb your typical P-51D Mustang to 15,000 feet! In fact,
before parasitic drag sets in at higher speeds (from the larger frontal area, etc.), the acceleration you feel when you shove the "go" lever forward feels very much like a P-51 Mustang. It's a hot rod for sure! (Click
on the T-28 picture above to see some in-flight shots taken from the back seat)
North American P-51D Mustang N151X, Serial #44-11628
A life-long dream was realized for me when I got a ride in this beautiful P-51D in December of 1995. It's based
in Mesa Arizona at the Champlin Fighter Museum and owned by Bill Hane. The ride was something I'll never forget
and included a full aerobatic sequence as well as a general "beat-up" of the sparse countryside around Mesa,
Arizona. For $400 bucks, you can get a ride in this Mustang too! (Click on the P-51 picture above
to see some more shots of this P-51)
Boeing B-17G N909, Serial #44-83575
In June of 1996, when the Collings Foundation B-17/B-24 tour came to my hometown, I couldn't
control myself and got my checkbook out to buy a ride in (and briefly fly!) this fully restored
Boeing B-17G. As long as all four engines are running and nothing else goes wrong, the B-17 is
a pussy-cat to fly. Kind of like a big giant Super Cub. The rudder is very powerful but pitch
forces are heavy and roll forces are even heavier. This B-17 belongs to the Collings Foundation
and you can get a ride in her as well for $300 bucks.
Check out this URL for a tour schedule and for more information
about the Collings Foundation.
Click here to see a couple of shots from inside this B-17 during flight. Click
here to see a few shots of the world's only airworthy B-17F Serial 42-29782, N17W as it's restoration nears completion at the Boeing Renton plant.
Boeing B-29 "Miss Jackie - The Rebel"
A fella I used to work with served as an Assistant Crew Cheif on B-29's shortly after WW-II. He kindly
loaned me some negatives he had of B-29 nose art he photographed during his service days. (Click on the
B-29 picture above to see more nose art photographs from this collection)
Click here to see my aviation hotlist page.
Click here to return to my main home page.
Need some words of encouragement to begin that airplane project? Click here to see a poignant quote by Johann Wofgang Von Goeth.
Last update: January 17, 2003