This North American AT-6A (Harvard MK 2) named Gunslinger was rolled out the factory in Inglewood California armed with a 303 machine gun and bomb mount on Christmas Eve December 24, 1941 (a few weeks after the Pearl Harbour attack).
It was slated to go to France but when the Germans invaded France the aircraft was sent to Canada to become part of the Commonwealth pilot training program for the RAF/RCAF in January 1942 where she served training pilots until 1961. It was then sold through the Canadian Federal Government’s Crown Assets and was purchased privately by a person from the USA.
After about 5 owners and 45 years, Vic McMann purchased her in Denver Colorado in 2007 . Gunslinger, a Harvard MK2, is the lightest version of the AT-6/ Harvard family which make them the most desirable for racing. It has a stock Pratt & Whitney 1340 (600 hp) engine. The airframe has had many drag reduction modifications producing an additional 35 mph over a stock Harvard. Vic races Gunslinger at the National Championship Air Races in Reno.