The Best-Built Airplane That Ever Was?

Good morning! I hope you had a fantastic Labor Day weekend. Mine was spent doing house projects, counting down the days until our kids are back in school and watching my wife mow our yard from the office window while I wrote this newsletter. She insists on doing it, I swear! But I didn’t pass up the opportunity to summon my inner Nate Bargatze and told her “I want you to go tell every neighbor that you chose to do this.” 🤣

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• The Worldwide Cult of the T-6

• Around the Skies: Date set for Astronauts to return to Earth (next year), Registration is open for 2025 EAA Air Academy, The Ninety-Nines’ $1 million surprise, Tragic explosion at Delta Air Lines facility

• PilotTube: The Point of No Return

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

The T-6 Texan: Loud, Proud and Still Flying

The T-6 Texan is more than just a plane — it's the aviation equivalent of a classic rock anthem that never goes out of style. Whether it's the bone-rattling roar of its engine or the sheer thrill of flying it, the T-6 has been capturing hearts (and ear drums) since its introduction. This WWII-era trainer has become a staple at airshows, warbird races and even wedding proposals, proving that it's more than just a relic; it's a living legend. With around 500 still flying in the U.S. alone, it's safe to say that the T-6 isn’t just surviving — it's thriving. And let’s be honest, there’s something undeniably cool about owning a machine that’s as loud as it is historic.

Flying a T-6, however, isn't for the faint of heart — or the light of wallet. This "5,000-pound tail-dragger with a mean streak" requires not just skill, but also a fair bit of cash to keep it in the air. With a baseline price tag that rivals a luxury car, plus an operating cost that could fund a small island getaway, owning a T-6 is more of a passion project than a practical investment. Yet, for those who crave the thrill of the skies and a connection to aviation history, the T-6 is worth every penny. After all, where else can you get the satisfaction of working on a plane with your own two hands, then taking it up for a spin that makes everyone on the ground look up in awe?

From the dusty airfields of World War II to the glitzy arenas of airshows and skywriting gigs, the T-6 has done it all. And thanks to the dedicated enthusiasts who maintain, fly and race these iconic birds, the T-6 will continue to dominate the skies for generations to come. Sure, modern aviation might have moved on to sleeker, faster and more tech-heavy machines, but there's a reason why the T-6 still captures the imagination of both young pilots and seasoned veterans alike. It’s not just about flying; it’s about keeping a piece of history alive (preferably at full throttle).

Don’t Keep flybuyer a Secret!

Help me grow the newsletter by sending this link to your pilot friends!

AROUND THE SKIES

What began as a brief eight-day mission turned into a long, uncertain stay at the ISS for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who are now set to return to Earth in February 2025 👀 aboard SpaceX’s Dragon. Meanwhile, the fate of Boeing’s troubled Starliner, plagued by Helium leaks and control system failures, remains unclear as NASA hints at a separate recovery plan.

The EAA Air Academy, the world’s longest-running youth aviation camp, is getting a facelift for 2025, adding even more chances for teens aged 14 to 18 to dive headfirst into the world of flight. Registration kicks off today, so get ready to send your future pilots to Oshkosh, where they'll trade in their video game controllers for flight simulators and hands-on aviation projects.

The Ninety-Nines just got a $1 million surprise, thanks to Bill Wallingford, who honored his late mother, Josephine Wood Wallingford — the youngest woman pilot when the Ninety-Nines were founded in 1929. The funds will boost the organization’s educational programs and help maintain their Oklahoma City headquarters, ensuring that the legacy of women pilots continues to soar high.

Two workers tragically lost their lives, and another was seriously injured in a tire explosion at a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility in Atlanta. As Delta mourns the loss, the investigation into the cause of the explosion continues, leaving a heavy cloud of sadness over the entire operation.

PilotTube

“You know, there’s a lot of things I don’t like about being a pilot. I don’t like the paperwork, I don’t like busy airspace, I don’t like the red tape and I hate how expensive it is.

A lot of people become pilots and most of them spend their lives on airways, in controlled airspace, jumping from terminal to terminal. And while that absolutely has romance to it, there’s a whole other side to this world that most never get to experience.

That other side, well, that’s what this story is about.”

Interested in Sponsoring This Newsletter?
Email me at [email protected] to get your business featured in an upcoming edition.

Do You Have An Aircraft I Can Film?
I’m always on the lookout for airplanes to review for my YouTube channel. If you own, fly or have access to an airplane, business jet, helicopter, sea plane, bush plane, warbird or blimp, please fill out this form!

Need to Sell Your Plane?
I’m the founder of Royal Aviation Group, a veteran-owned aircraft brokerage that specializes in video content to get airplanes sold. Send me an email at [email protected] if you’d like to chat.

Follow @flybuyer on Instagram!