Dates

Event

1 January 1941

Constructed as an AT-6A-NT by North American at Dallas, Texas, USA with s/n 41-16302 USAAF.

6 December 1956

Certificate of airworthiness for N52BA (AT-6A, 78-6680) issued.

By 14 September 1982

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 14 September 1982 to 19 September 1982

Raced as #39, named Ruthie.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Dennis Buehn. Qualified in 8th place with an average speed of 211.52 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 214.30 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 206.92 mph.

By 12 September 1983

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 12 September 1983 to 18 September 1983

Raced as #39, named Ruthie.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Ed Colbert. Qualified in 13th place with an average speed of 207.71 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 207.07 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 205.42 mph.

12 September 1983

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

12 September 1983

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

4 May 1984

To Randall S. Difani, Gardena, CA with new c/r N57318 (AT-6A, 78-6680).

By 10 September 1984

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 10 September 1984 to 16 September 1984

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Dennis Buehn. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 221.839 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 219.914 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 217.116 mph.

By 9 September 1985

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 9 September 1985 to 15 September 1985

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 224.688 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 219.531 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 213.892 mph.

27 July 1986

Photographer: Nate Wilburn
Notes: Miramar, California. Fightertown USA.

By 8 September 1986

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 8 September 1986 to 14 September 1986

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 221.177 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 220.519 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 220.245 mph.

By 14 September 1987

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 14 September 1987 to 20 September 1987

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 216.911 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 217.601 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 218.409 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 219.223 mph.

By 12 September 1988

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 12 September 1988 to 18 September 1988

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 223.744 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 220.418 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 220.875 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 220.817 mph.

By 11 September 1989

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 11 September 1989 to 17 September 1989

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 223.056 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 220.472 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 221.865 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 213.434 mph.

By 17 September 1990

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 17 September 1990 to 23 September 1990

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 216.434 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 222.112 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 221.275 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 217.491 mph.

By 9 September 1991

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 9 September 1991 to 15 September 1991

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 18th place with an average speed of 207.772 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 220.900 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 221.718 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 209.480 mph.

November 1991

Photographer: Tom Tessier
Notes: At Chino Airport, CA

By 4 July 1992

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 4 July 1992 to 5 July 1992

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed in the Redmond Air Races event. The primary pilot was Randy DiFani. Qualified in 11th place with an average speed of 202.426 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 201.191 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 202.110 mph.

By 14 September 1992

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 14 September 1992 to 20 September 1992

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 222.878 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 217.540 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 220.688 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 218.744 mph.

Circa 14 September 1992

Photographer: Charlene Aro

By 13 September 1993

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 13 September 1993 to 19 September 1993

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani. Qualified in 8th place with an average speed of 222.354 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 222.437 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 220.715 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 212.186 mph.

By 18 March 1994

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 18 March 1994 to 20 March 1994

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the Phoenix 500 Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy DiFani. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 221.967 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 212.814 mph.

By 12 September 1994

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

From 12 September 1994 to 18 September 1994

Raced as #18, named Thunderbolt.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the T-6 class. The primary pilot was Randy Difani from Long Beach, CA. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 225.310 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 215.659 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 210.979 mph.

8 April 2000

Photographer: James Eubanks
Notes: North American Reunion, Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Kissimmee FL

By 4 January 2003

To unknown owner with c/r N57318.

4 January 2003

Crashed.
The accident occurred at the Melborne International Airport (MLB) Melbourne, FL, United States while taxiing. The damage was minor. The pilot of N57318, a North American AT6A, said that he had landed on runway 27L and had been told to hold short of runway 27R...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

1 January 2006

Certificate of airworthiness for N57318 (AT-6A, 78-6680) issued.

11 March 2006

Photographer: James Eubanks
Notes: Tico Warbird Airshow, Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville FL

11 March 2006

Photographer: James Eubanks
Notes: Tico Warbird Airshow, Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville FL

5 April 2007

To Bill M. Terrell, Thayne, WY with new c/r N52BA.

24 July 2015

To James L. Griffin, Tulsa, OK keeping c/r N52BA.

22 July 2018

Photographer: Reinhard Jost
Notes: With RAF-roundels arriving at 2018 AirVenture, Oshkosh, WI