![Airline captain Darren Clarkson acquired this RV-8 from his brother, who built the aircraft before eventually stepping away. [Credit: Glenn Calvin]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Vans-1.jpeg)
If you would like to find out how it feels to fly an old-school, piston-engine fighter, there are a few paths available.
Learning to fly a North American AT-6, just like aspiring fighter jocks did during World War II, is a great way to build the skills necessary to move on to more glamorous warbirds and to experience the feel of combat-style flight without necessarily burning through millions of dollars in the process. Those with more time and money to spend, and a desire for horsepower in the four-digit range, can acquire a P-51 Mustang or other former front-line fighter aircraft for a more authentic and thrilling ace fantasy.
