This aircraft was ordered in 1951 by the USAF, one of more than two thousand Texans rebuilt from earlier AT-6 and SNJ models. It was allocated a new cn and the serial 51-15202. It found its way to the Italian AF as MM53652, and was retired in 1979. In 1981 bought and shipped to the UK and stored until 1986 when shipped to Australia. Registration VH-ITN was reserved whilst a restoration project, but it was registered VH-YVI on 2 February 2001. It's first post-restoration flight was not until early 2011.