Noteworthy for producing such well-known early military aircraft as the North American F-86 Sabre and P-51 Mustang, North American Aviation was founded in 1928 by Clement Melville Keys. Initially a holding company for buying and selling interest in aviation-related companies, North American transitioned into an aircraft manufacturer in 1934 following the Air Mail Act of 1934 that forced the breakup of aviation holding companies.
North American Aviation would eventually produce the country’s first combat aircraft with the BC-1, F-86, XB-70 Valkyrie, and T-6 Texan trainer. The latter aircraft, also known as the SNJ and Harvard by different military branches, is considered by some the most famous trainer aircraft ever. In 1967, North American Aviation merged with Rockwell Standard, a company whose roots date to 1919, to form North American Rockwell, which would make major contributions to the United States’ Space Shuttle program. In 1973, North American Rockwell was renamed Rockwell International. In 1996, the company sold its aerospace and defense business to Boeing.
Pre-owned North American Aviation aircraft still in circulation include variants of the P-51 Mustang; T-6 Texan, including the T-6A, T-6C, T-6D, T-6F, T-6G, SNJ 4, AT-6G, AT-6D, AT-6A, and Harvard MK IIB; and T-28, including the T-28B, T28-C, T28F, and T28D.