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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: North American T-6/AT-6/SNJ Texan / Harvard
    Latest Model:AT-6D Texan
    Last Military Serial:42-81646 USAF
    Last Civil Registration:N8540P
    Compressed ID:NA AT-6D sn 42-81646 USAF cr N8540P...
    Latest Owner or Location:James T. Ostrich, Redding, CA

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as an AT-6D.

    Circa 1942

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 42-81646.
    42-81646 was not an AT-6 - maybe 44-81646.

    October 1980

    To North American Aviation Inc/Arthur D. Medore, Denville, NJ with new c/r N8540P.

    From Unknown to By 1984

    To North American Aviation Inc/Arthur D. Medore, Hemet, CA keeping c/r N8540P.

    From By 1990 to By 1991

    To Fighterbirds West/Jerry Miles, Riverbend, AZ keeping c/r N8540P.

    Raced as #51, named Yaba-Daba-Doo.

    2 July 1993

    To Classic Air Parts/Jerry Miles, Ontario, CA keeping c/r N8540P.

    From Unknown to By 1995

    To Classic Air Parts/Jerry Miles, Miami, FL keeping c/r N8540P.

    July 1995

    Civil registration, N8540P, cancelled.

    8 August 1995

    Certificate of airworthiness for N8540P (AT-6D, 42-81646-1) issued.

    30 March 1999

    To Aero Craft Services Inc, Las Vegas, NV with new c/r N8540P.

    To Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    From 17 December 1999 to By 2004

    To Douglas D. Garrett, Oxnard, CA keeping c/r N8540P.

    26 October 2005

    To Jason S. Somes, Simi Valley, CA keeping c/r N8540P.

    7 May 2006


    Photographer: Doug Robertson
    Notes: 42-81646 was NOT an AT-6 !!!

    From 11 September 2006 to 17 September 2006

    Raced as #1, named Miss Universe.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Jason Somes from Simi Valley, CA. Qualified in 22nd place with an average speed of 195.977 mph.

    11 September 2006


    Photographer: David Lednicer
    Notes: The T-6 Class racer Miss Universe being towed out for a practice session at the Reno Air Races.

    29 July 2008


    Photographer: Simon Wallwork
    Notes: N8540P is clearly getting some attention with Condor Squadron at Van Nuys, CA.

    21 October 2008

    To Jason S. Somes, Simi Valley, CA keeping c/r N8540P.

    Based at Condor Squadron, Van Nuys Airport (West Side), Los Angeles, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    Markings Applied: 42-81646

    19 July 2016

    To James T. Ostrich, Redding, CA keeping c/r N8540P.

    3 October 2019


    Photographer: Tom Vance
    Notes: Benton Airpark Fall Airshow 2019 ( Redding )

    5 November 2022

    Civil registration, N8540P, cancelled.

    30 March 2024


    Photographer: Jeff Salt
    Notes: N8540P participated in the Tampa Air Fest 2024 at MacDill Air Force Base.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden
    Warbirds Directory, 5th Edition by Geoff Goodall
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    Reno Air Racing Association (National Championship Air Races)
    U.S. Demobbed by Horrex, Ray, Boulanger, Dunn, McGhee and Wood
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    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=31640
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