Warbird Thunder

Two North American SNJ Texans in a fast-paced formation aerobatic show

Hear the legendary roar of “Ol' Growler” as historic SNJ Texans soar into the sky with precision formation flying, dramatic smoke, and crowd-pleasing aerobatics.

Performance Schedule

Warbird Thunder Airshows delivers a high-energy, 12-minute performance featuring two North American SNJ Texans, the iconic WWII-era Navy advanced trainer also known as the T-6 Texan in Army and Air Force service.

Performance times for Warbird Thunder will be announced closer to the event.

Ticket Information

About the SNJ / T-6 Texan

The North American SNJ (called the T-6 Texan by the Army and Air Force) is one of the most important training aircraft in aviation history. Nearly every American pilot who served in World War II and Korea trained in a variant of this aircraft.

More than 15,000 SNJ/T-6 aircraft were built and flown in over 60 countries worldwide—often in combat—and many continued serving internationally long after the U.S. retired the type in the 1960s.

Warbird Thunder flies two rare, beautifully restored aircraft: a 1942 SNJ-2 and a 1943 SNJ-3, both powered by 600-horsepower supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engines with 9-foot Hamilton-Standard propellers.

Warbird Thunder SNJ Texan banking over the airshow with a white smoke trail.
Warbird Thunder SNJ Texans in vertical formation with smoke trails.
Inverted cockpit view from an SNJ Texan with smoke trail over the coastline.

Performance Highlights

  • Show length12 minutes
  • Flying styleTwo-ship formation aerobatics
  • ManeuversLoops, aileron rolls, barrel rolls, Cuban Eights
  • PresentationSmoke-on passes + opposing aerobatics
  • Signature feature“Ol' Growler” radial engine sound

Aircraft Specs

  • Aircraft1942 SNJ-2 & 1943 SNJ-3
  • Engine600 HP Pratt & Whitney R-1340
  • RoleWWII & Korea trainer
  • Built15,000+ worldwide

About the Pilots

Chris "CT" Thomas in a flight suit waving from the cockpit of an SNJ Texan during a performance.
Pilot Chris “CT” Thomas and Mike “Buick” Eberhardt standing in front of their SNJ Texans, wearing flight suits smiling at the camera.
Mike “Buick” Eberhardt in a flight suit waving from the cockpit of an SNJ Texan during a performance.

Warbird Thunder is flown by an accomplished team with deep military and airshow experience. Mike “Buick” Eberhardt is a former Navy aviator and seasoned demonstration pilot, and Chris “CT” Thomas has logged over 21,000 flight hours in more than 110 aircraft types.

Together, they bring precision, safety, and showmanship to every performance—honoring the legacy of the aircraft and the generations of pilots who trained in the SNJ/T-6.

“The SNJ was nicknamed 'Ol' Growler' for its deep, throaty roar—nothing else sounds like it.”

Warbird Thunder Photo Gallery

Crowd greeting Warbird Thunder pilots in SNJ Texan aircraft on the ramp.
Warbird Thunder SNJ Texans in formation with smoke trails over the sea.
Warbird Thunder pilot helping two children sit in the cockpit of an SNJ Texan during an airshow meet-and-greet.
Warbird Thunder SNJ Texans climbing in formation with smoke trails.
Two Warbird Thunder SNJ Texans carving mirrored loops through the sky, leaving thick curling smoke trails behind them.
Kid sitting in the cockpit of a Warbird Thunder SNJ Texan during an airshow meet-and-greet, smiling at the camera.